podcast Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Future Of Public Media Funding, Fighting A ‘Hunger Tsunami’ And A Popular Hotdog, This West Virginia Week Jul 19, 2025

On this West Virginia Week, how West Virginia senators voted on the congressional rescission bill and how hunger activists are preparing for massive federal cuts. We’ll tell you about a key victory in court for anti-abortion activists in the state. Also, a little bakery is getting a big moment to shine. And, the surging popularity of a hotdog called The Homewrecker.

Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

A black and white photo of a man standing shirtless in a creek holding a child and a tire around his shoulder. Another child is standing in front of him with a rope. — **Pictures From Alleghania And Remembering Travis Stimeling, Inside Appalachia** Jul 18, 2025
An international photographer turns his lens toward home.

Also, after Hurricane Helene, whitewater rafting guides are adapting to diminished business and changed rivers.

And, we remember Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a mark on mountain culture and the people who practice and document it.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home**

**Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene**

**Remembering Travis Stimeling**

**Surfing The Gauley River**

**Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night**

**Scopes Trial: A Century Later**

**Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health**

Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home

Derek Cutter and his sons, Crosby and Max, in Savage River, Maryland.
*Photo courtesy of Michael Snyder*

Michael Snyder is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in the Allegheny mountains on the border of Maryland and West Virginia. His work has been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian and The Washington Post.

After living away from Appalachia for over a decade, Snyder moved back to document what changed and what stayed the same. The result is a new book. It’s called *Alleghania: A Central Appalachian Folklore Anthology.*

Associate Producer Abby Neff recently spoke with Snyder.

Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene

Heather Ellis rafts down a section of the Pigeon River with two of her friends and fellow guides. Some parts of the river are running clear and strong enough to host rafters, while other areas are still recovering almost a year after Hurricane Helene.
*Photo Credit: Gerard Albert III/Blue Ridge Public Radio*

Hurricane Helene left a lasting mark on central Appalachia and the rivers that run through it. The Nolichucky, the French Broad and the Pigeon were home to a multi-million dollar rafting industry. Seasonal whitewater river guides help tourists have fun and keep them safe. Helene has made that job less certain.

Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) and Grist reporter Katie Myers reports.

Remembering Travis Stimeling

Stimeling and Linscheid performing together.
*Photo courtesy of Mary Linscheid*

West Virginia University (WVU) Professor Travis Stimeling carried the torch for bluegrass and traditional music in Appalachia. It was a shock when they died abruptly in November 2023 at the age of 43. There was an outpouring of remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends.

Some shared their stories with Folkways Reporter Zack Harold. In June of this year, Zack’s remembrance of Travis Stimeling won an award from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA).

Surfing The Gauley River

Andrew Wagner packs up surfboards for long hike out.
*Photo Credit: Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Last fall, WVPB's Briana Heaney reported on how the Gauley River has become a destination for surfers — even in landlocked West Virginia.

Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night

Blue-ghost fireflies, who appear a pale blue-green in person and neon green on camera, are generally found in southern Appalachia but can be found as far north as Bernheim Forest and Arboretum south of Louisville.
*Photo Credit: Eric Nally/Bernheim Forest and Arboretum*

A rare Appalachian firefly lives in the forests outside Louisville, Kentucky. While the season for the blue ghost fireflies was at its peak, Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman visited the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a half hour drive south of Louisville, to learn about the rare Appalachian lightning bug.

Scopes Trial: A Century Later

One hundred years ago, John Scopes taught evolution in a Dayton, Tennessee, high school.

A few months later he was arrested, tried and convicted of breaking the law in what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial — a flashpoint in the debate about how to teach science in schools.

To mark the centennial, the town is holding a special celebration. WPLN’s Mary Mancini visited Dayton and brought this report.

Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health

A West Virginia researcher is working at the cutting edge of the study of psychedelics. Corrine Hazel is a West Virginia University microbiology student. This spring, she found a fungus that was barely more than a theory. It produces effects similar to the drug LSD, and might have uses in treating depression, PTSD and addiction.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hazel and her professor, Dan Panaccione, about the discovery.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Huey Vincent, Mary Hott, John Blissard, Blue Dot Sessions, Paul Loomis and Hello June.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A landscape image of a river. Three people are sitting in a red raft on the water. — **Pictures From Alleghania And Remembering Travis Stimeling, Inside Appalachia** Jul 18, 2025
An international photographer turns his lens toward home.

Also, after Hurricane Helene, whitewater rafting guides are adapting to diminished business and changed rivers.

And, we remember Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a mark on mountain culture and the people who practice and document it.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home**

**Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene**

**Remembering Travis Stimeling**

**Surfing The Gauley River**

**Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night**

**Scopes Trial: A Century Later**

**Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health**

Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home

Derek Cutter and his sons, Crosby and Max, in Savage River, Maryland.
*Photo courtesy of Michael Snyder*

Michael Snyder is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in the Allegheny mountains on the border of Maryland and West Virginia. His work has been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian and The Washington Post.

After living away from Appalachia for over a decade, Snyder moved back to document what changed and what stayed the same. The result is a new book. It’s called *Alleghania: A Central Appalachian Folklore Anthology.*

Associate Producer Abby Neff recently spoke with Snyder.

Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene

Heather Ellis rafts down a section of the Pigeon River with two of her friends and fellow guides. Some parts of the river are running clear and strong enough to host rafters, while other areas are still recovering almost a year after Hurricane Helene.
*Photo Credit: Gerard Albert III/Blue Ridge Public Radio*

Hurricane Helene left a lasting mark on central Appalachia and the rivers that run through it. The Nolichucky, the French Broad and the Pigeon were home to a multi-million dollar rafting industry. Seasonal whitewater river guides help tourists have fun and keep them safe. Helene has made that job less certain.

Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) and Grist reporter Katie Myers reports.

Remembering Travis Stimeling

Stimeling and Linscheid performing together.
*Photo courtesy of Mary Linscheid*

West Virginia University (WVU) Professor Travis Stimeling carried the torch for bluegrass and traditional music in Appalachia. It was a shock when they died abruptly in November 2023 at the age of 43. There was an outpouring of remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends.

Some shared their stories with Folkways Reporter Zack Harold. In June of this year, Zack’s remembrance of Travis Stimeling won an award from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA).

Surfing The Gauley River

Andrew Wagner packs up surfboards for long hike out.
*Photo Credit: Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Last fall, WVPB's Briana Heaney reported on how the Gauley River has become a destination for surfers — even in landlocked West Virginia.

Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night

Blue-ghost fireflies, who appear a pale blue-green in person and neon green on camera, are generally found in southern Appalachia but can be found as far north as Bernheim Forest and Arboretum south of Louisville.
*Photo Credit: Eric Nally/Bernheim Forest and Arboretum*

A rare Appalachian firefly lives in the forests outside Louisville, Kentucky. While the season for the blue ghost fireflies was at its peak, Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman visited the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a half hour drive south of Louisville, to learn about the rare Appalachian lightning bug.

Scopes Trial: A Century Later

One hundred years ago, John Scopes taught evolution in a Dayton, Tennessee, high school.

A few months later he was arrested, tried and convicted of breaking the law in what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial — a flashpoint in the debate about how to teach science in schools.

To mark the centennial, the town is holding a special celebration. WPLN’s Mary Mancini visited Dayton and brought this report.

Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health

A West Virginia researcher is working at the cutting edge of the study of psychedelics. Corrine Hazel is a West Virginia University microbiology student. This spring, she found a fungus that was barely more than a theory. It produces effects similar to the drug LSD, and might have uses in treating depression, PTSD and addiction.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hazel and her professor, Dan Panaccione, about the discovery.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Huey Vincent, Mary Hott, John Blissard, Blue Dot Sessions, Paul Loomis and Hello June.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Capito On Cuts To NPR, PBS And Documenting Changes In Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning Jul 18, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, what West Virginia’s senior senator, Shelley Moore Capito, has to say about funding for public broadcasting after she and other Republicans vote for cuts.

Plus, a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in West Virginia has turned the camera on the Appalachian region of his childhood. We’ll find out what he has to say about how much has changed – and how much has stayed the same.

Our Song of the Week comes from Nashville banjo man, Kyle Tuttle. “Hard To Say,” from his 2024 solo album Labor of Lust reflects on the grief Tuttle experienced after the loss of his close friend and bandmate.

West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

The Decision To Cut Abortion Meds And A Push To Strengthen Harm Reduction, This West Virginia Morning Jul 17, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Chris Schulz examines a decision from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals this week to allow limits on the sale of abortion medications – even those medications that the FDA has deemed to be safe and effective. It partially comes down to a separation of state and federal rights. But there’s more.

Plus, harm reduction programs are controversial – and opponents often point to figures that suggest they aren’t particularly effective. But supporters have studied practices in Appalachia and say some of the programs aren’t broad enough to reach the population that most needs their help.

West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Restricting Abortion Meds And Feeding The Hungry After SNAP Cuts, This West Virginia Morning Jul 16, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that West Virginia can limit the sale of abortion medications – even those medications that the FDA has deemed to be safe and effective. The case involved mifepristone, which is often used to terminate a pregnancy.

Plus, as hunger activists and those who work to provide food for low income people brace for cuts to SNAP benefits, the head of a Huntington-based foodbank details how the cuts may affect thousands of Appalachians.

West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Battle Brewing At Education Board And An Appalshop Documentary, This West Virginia Morning Jul 15, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Board of Education (BOE) held a 10-minute meeting on Monday, to address what sounded like a routine policy issue. But it was promptly rejected by Secretary of State Kris Warner. Now the board plans legal action.

Plus, a new documentary follows efforts to preserve one of the largest collections of Appalachian culture and history from devastating flood waters.

West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Celebrating ‘The Homewrecker’ And Bolstering A Crowded Two Lane Road, This West Virginia Morning Jul 14, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, a deep fried, one pound all beef hotdog is suddenly all the rage. Bill Lynch talks with the owner of Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage about how "The Homewrecker" was born.

Plus, a $4 billion steel mill under construction in Mason County borders the Ohio River on one side and a well-traveled, 40-mile, two lane Route 2 on the other. The project is creating hundreds of jobs with more to come – but it’s also bringing scores of drivers to a road that’s become dangerous.

West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode. Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

New Flights From Charleston And Investigating Opioid Funds, This West Virginia Week Jul 12, 2025

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll tell you about new flight destinations coming to Charleston’s Yeager International Airport beginning this fall, and the reasons for a state intervention for another school district. Also, what the Supreme Court has to say about the case of a transgender student in West Virginia. And, those opioid settlement funds? A group of investigative journalism students from WVU delves into where the money is really going.

Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

A photograph of a Civil War soldier statue being carried by a t-rex dinosaur. The statue of the soldier appears as if it were lifted off of a horse. — **Dinosaur Kingdom, Roadside Weeds And The Bus On The Rock, Inside Appalachia** Jul 11, 2025
Dinos fight Civil War soldiers at a theme park throwback — Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.

Also, one person’s roadside weed is another’s “golden” treasure. So says a North Carolina fiber artist.

And, the backstory of a bus that sits at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom**

**Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot**

**Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail**

**Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes**

Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom

A dinosaur-solider creation from Mark Cline's roadside attraction Dino World in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
*Photo courtesy of Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife Program*

Every summer, Americans hit the road for vacation. In Appalachia, families pile into cars and drive from the hills and mountains to, well, other hills and mountains like the Smokies or to the ocean in places like Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks. The tradition of summer road tripping dates back for as long as there have been automobiles.

On these long drives, people needed breaks. So, they’d stop at fruit stands, or fireworks stores or bizarre roadside attractions. A lot of those weird old-style attractions have disappeared, but some have managed to hang on.

In 2020, Host Mason Adams visited artist Mark Cline’s Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.

Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot

The World's Largest Teapot in Chester has been an attraction for generations.
*Photo Credit: Zander Aloi/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Summer road trips are an annual tradition. Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see. Fireworks and fruit stands can pull motorists off the road, of course. But every once in a while, you pass something that makes you say, “What was that?” Like, a gigantic basket towering over the edge of a town or a lighthouse in the middle of the mountains.

In 2023, WVPB’s Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, in the Northern Panhandle, to learn the story behind a classic roadside attraction there — a souvenir stand known as the "World’s Largest Teapot."

Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail

Hikers dig into the half-gallon challenge at the Pine Grove Furnace store on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
*Photo Credit: Jeremy Long/WITF*

Gardners, Pennsylvania has a food tradition that sounds like a belly ache. See, Gardners is the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. So, thru-hikers celebrate the milestone with something called the half-gallon challenge. That’s right, a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting.

In this story from 2023, WITF’s Rachel McDevitt takes us to the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, to meet some of the challengers. Abiding by trail rules, we’re only using the hikers’ trail names for this story.

Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes

Styles stirring the pot of her dye bath made with dried sumac berries. Since water can affect the color of natural dye, she only uses water collected from a creek by her home.
*Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Dede Styles is passionate about weeds. Using common roadside plants, Styles makes natural dyes for fabrics. It’s a skill she teaches to eager students. And it’s part of a mission much bigger than brightly colored yarn.

In 2024, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams brought us this story from Swannanoa, North Carolina.

*At Inside Appalachia, we love roadside attractions. Got a particular favorite in the region? Drop us a line at InsideAppalchia@wvpublic.org. We might feature it in a future episode.*

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps, David Odell, Dave Bing and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A large teapot is seen on green grass against a cloudy, sunny sky. On the side of the teapot, it reads, "World's Largest Teapot." — **Dinosaur Kingdom, Roadside Weeds And The Bus On The Rock, Inside Appalachia** Jul 11, 2025
Dinos fight Civil War soldiers at a theme park throwback — Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.

Also, one person’s roadside weed is another’s “golden” treasure. So says a North Carolina fiber artist.

And, the backstory of a bus that sits at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom**

**Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot**

**Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail**

**Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes**

Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom

A dinosaur-solider creation from Mark Cline's roadside attraction Dino World in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
*Photo courtesy of Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife Program*

Every summer, Americans hit the road for vacation. In Appalachia, families pile into cars and drive from the hills and mountains to, well, other hills and mountains like the Smokies or to the ocean in places like Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks. The tradition of summer road tripping dates back for as long as there have been automobiles.

On these long drives, people needed breaks. So, they’d stop at fruit stands, or fireworks stores or bizarre roadside attractions. A lot of those weird old-style attractions have disappeared, but some have managed to hang on.

In 2020, Host Mason Adams visited artist Mark Cline’s Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.

Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot

The World's Largest Teapot in Chester has been an attraction for generations.
*Photo Credit: Zander Aloi/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Summer road trips are an annual tradition. Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see. Fireworks and fruit stands can pull motorists off the road, of course. But every once in a while, you pass something that makes you say, “What was that?” Like, a gigantic basket towering over the edge of a town or a lighthouse in the middle of the mountains.

In 2023, WVPB’s Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, in the Northern Panhandle, to learn the story behind a classic roadside attraction there — a souvenir stand known as the "World’s Largest Teapot."

Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail

Hikers dig into the half-gallon challenge at the Pine Grove Furnace store on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
*Photo Credit: Jeremy Long/WITF*

Gardners, Pennsylvania has a food tradition that sounds like a belly ache. See, Gardners is the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. So, thru-hikers celebrate the milestone with something called the half-gallon challenge. That’s right, a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting.

In this story from 2023, WITF’s Rachel McDevitt takes us to the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, to meet some of the challengers. Abiding by trail rules, we’re only using the hikers’ trail names for this story.

Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes

Styles stirring the pot of her dye bath made with dried sumac berries. Since water can affect the color of natural dye, she only uses water collected from a creek by her home.
*Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Dede Styles is passionate about weeds. Using common roadside plants, Styles makes natural dyes for fabrics. It’s a skill she teaches to eager students. And it’s part of a mission much bigger than brightly colored yarn.

In 2024, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams brought us this story from Swannanoa, North Carolina.

*At Inside Appalachia, we love roadside attractions. Got a particular favorite in the region? Drop us a line at InsideAppalchia@wvpublic.org. We might feature it in a future episode.*

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps, David Odell, Dave Bing and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

The Discovery Of A New Species And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Jul 11, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, a WVU professor and microbiology student working with a popular flower at a university lab recently found an elusive fungus that produces effects similar to a drug being used to treat depression, PTSD and addiction. Bill Lynch talks with both student and professor about their startling discovery and what comes next.

Plus, on this week’s encore broadcast ofMountain Stage, host Kathy Mattea welcomes American Patchwork Quartet, The Brother Brothers, and Stephanie Lambring to the historic Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. Our Song of the Week from Kyshona is a live performance of “Carolina.”

West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Chuck Anziulewicz is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMornin

Examining The Closure Of Another Paper And Opioid Funds And Harm Reduction, This West Virginia Morning Jul 10, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Us & Them host Trey Kay examines the closure of the nearly century-old newspaper in Welch, and the efforts to save local newspapers across the nation.

Also, the final installment of an investigative series by journalism students at WVU uncovers the quagmire about harm reduction programs and which ones counties choose for their opioid settlement funds.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Two adults, a man and a woman, sit on the concrete steps of a brick building. They are wearing casual clothing - jeans, sweatshirts, a jacket. The man is wearing a ball cap, and the woman has long, brown hair. — **Us & Them Encore: Another Small Town Paper Down** Jul 10, 2025
Our country’s divides often reveal themselves in our choices and habits, including how and where we get our information. As the economics of the media landscape have imploded, the economics of the industry have forced changes. In the past two decades, online sites have taken over much of the income stream from classified ads and general advertising. Many local news outlets have gone out of business and there are now more than 200 counties across the country with no source of local news, communities often referred to as news deserts.

One of those news deserts is McDowell County in West Virginia. Last year, publisher Missy Nester was forced to shut down the *Welch Daily News* after a valiant effort to keep the paper running. Join host Trey Kay and reporter Todd Melby on this episode of *Us & Them* to see what happens when local news organizations stop telling the stories of a community.

This episode was recently honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters for Best Documentary .

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the Pulitzer Center, the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation. Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Derek Tyson and Missy Nester on the back steps of the now shuttered building that housed The Welch News.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Downtown Welch, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Before the Welch Daily News shut down operations, publisher Missy Nester bought another regional paper, the Pineville Independent-Herald for $1.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Missy Nester, taking a break in the printing press room of The Welch News.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Missy Nester kept a collection of coal-related books and pamphlets in her office, including some from the last century showing several dozen coal companies operating in McDowell County.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

The Welch News closed down operations in March 2023.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

A discarded iMac rests on top of bound copies of The Welch News.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

The Welch News printing press dates to 1966, says publisher Missy Nester.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

The Welch News hired drivers three days a week to deliver the paper to homes in nearly every holler, road and neighborhood in McDowell County.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Derek Tyson and Missy Nester on a smoke break in the front office of The Welch News before the paper shut down in 2023.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Us & Them Host Trey Kay with Steve Waldman, co-founder of Report for America, which is modeled on Teach for America. Instead of bringing teachers to schools, Waldman’s focus is on bringing reporters to newsrooms around the nation. He’s currently the president of Rebuild Local News, a nonprofit dedicated to finding new ways to fund local journalism.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

An artistic view of a mountain from downtown Welch, West Virginia. On one side of the frame is a stone wall, and in the distance on the other side is a brick building with several windows. Many of the windows have air conditioners in them. — **Us & Them Encore: Another Small Town Paper Down** Jul 10, 2025
Our country’s divides often reveal themselves in our choices and habits, including how and where we get our information. As the economics of the media landscape have imploded, the economics of the industry have forced changes. In the past two decades, online sites have taken over much of the income stream from classified ads and general advertising. Many local news outlets have gone out of business and there are now more than 200 counties across the country with no source of local news, communities often referred to as news deserts.

One of those news deserts is McDowell County in West Virginia. Last year, publisher Missy Nester was forced to shut down the *Welch Daily News* after a valiant effort to keep the paper running. Join host Trey Kay and reporter Todd Melby on this episode of *Us & Them* to see what happens when local news organizations stop telling the stories of a community.

This episode was recently honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters for Best Documentary .

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the Pulitzer Center, the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation. Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Derek Tyson and Missy Nester on the back steps of the now shuttered building that housed The Welch News.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Downtown Welch, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Before the Welch Daily News shut down operations, publisher Missy Nester bought another regional paper, the Pineville Independent-Herald for $1.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Missy Nester, taking a break in the printing press room of The Welch News.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Missy Nester kept a collection of coal-related books and pamphlets in her office, including some from the last century showing several dozen coal companies operating in McDowell County.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

The Welch News closed down operations in March 2023.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

A discarded iMac rests on top of bound copies of The Welch News.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

The Welch News printing press dates to 1966, says publisher Missy Nester.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

The Welch News hired drivers three days a week to deliver the paper to homes in nearly every holler, road and neighborhood in McDowell County.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Derek Tyson and Missy Nester on a smoke break in the front office of The Welch News before the paper shut down in 2023.
*Photo Credit: Todd Melby*

Us & Them Host Trey Kay with Steve Waldman, co-founder of Report for America, which is modeled on Teach for America. Instead of bringing teachers to schools, Waldman’s focus is on bringing reporters to newsrooms around the nation. He’s currently the president of Rebuild Local News, a nonprofit dedicated to finding new ways to fund local journalism.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

New Flights From Yeager And Using Opioid Funds For Prevention Efforts, This West Virginia Morning Jul 09, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Breeze Airways is bringing back nonstop service from Charleston to Tampa – with plans to add four new destinations in the next two years. And the state has its eye on two places in particular.

Also, an investigation by journalism students at WVU uncovers the details about which counties are using their opioid settlement funds for prevention efforts designed to keep kids away from drugs – and whether those prevention programs are effective.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Two people standing and one person sitting in a chair in a room. Other people are watching the interaction. — **Mental Health Crisis Response And Mountain Valley Pipeline, Inside Appalachia** Jul 04, 2025
People with mental health challenges or substance use disorder often end up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way.

Also, one year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline went into service, people who live directly in the pipeline’s path have received compensation. But not everyone.

And, the Sacred Harp songbook gets an update for the first time since the early 1990s.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.**

**Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration**

**Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors**

**In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor**

**Updates In Shape Note Singing**

Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.

A sheriff’s deputy and mental health worker participate in a roleplay with Aaron Beeman, right, during CIT training in Princeton, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachian communities have long dealt with high rates of substance use disorder and mental health challenges, and the toll is felt by everyone. The person in crisis. Their families. Even police officers and EMTs. In West Virginia, the problem reached a boiling point during the COVID-19 pandemic. The systems couldn’t handle it. So, a few localities tried something new — and so far, it seems to be working.

Over the last several months, Host Mason Adams spent time with crisis teams in Huntington and Princeton, West Virginia, and produced the following story in collaboration with the Carter Center and the Mental Health Parity Newsroom Collaborative.

A warning, this story contains descriptions of suicide attempts, substance use disorder and mental health crises.

Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration

Quilt for the 23/54 project. 23 of the squares represent the families who signed a lawsuit against the Pulaski County School Board in 1947 for better educational opportunities for 54 Black children.
*Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/RadioIQ*

A Virginia Tech team is collaborating with community groups in Appalachian Virginia to uncover and reclaim forgotten history. Part of the project involves the Calfee Community and Cultural Center in Pulaski. It’s a former school that helped educate Black students in the days before integration.

Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd has more.

Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors

Markings of where the Mountain Valley Pipeline crosses under a gravel road in Monroe County, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Virginia and West Virginia residents near the Mountain Valley Pipeline lived with anxiety for years during its construction. The pipeline went into service and began transporting gas one year ago. And its neighbors are still uneasy about its effects on their lives and property.

WVPB’s Curtis Tate has the story.

In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor

Online gambling has led to a spike in problem gambling among more men -- and younger ones.
*Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Since a U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door, online sports betting is legal around much of the country. Online poker and casino gambling is legal in six states, including at multiple places in Appalachia. As gambling became more mainstream, states have moved to offer resources to help with gambling addiction. In West Virginia, there is the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-GAMBLER.

News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Sheila Moran of First Choice Services, which runs the helpline. She’s also a certified gambling counselor.

Updates In Shape Note Singing

Volunteers in Benton, Kentucky took turns leading the group in shape note singing. They stand in the middle of the singers and dictate the speed of the songs by moving their arm up and down similar a conductor.
*Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/LPM*

A popular songbook for people who sing a style of traditional American music called “shape note singing” is getting an update. The book hasn’t been updated in more than 30 years. Shape note singers are planning a gathering to celebrate and, of course, sing. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom's Justin Hicks reports.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Hello June and John Inghram.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

An image of a quilt. The colors are warm, with reds, purples, yellows and oranges. — **Mental Health Crisis Response And Mountain Valley Pipeline, Inside Appalachia** Jul 04, 2025
People with mental health challenges or substance use disorder often end up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way.

Also, one year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline went into service, people who live directly in the pipeline’s path have received compensation. But not everyone.

And, the Sacred Harp songbook gets an update for the first time since the early 1990s.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.**

**Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration**

**Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors**

**In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor**

**Updates In Shape Note Singing**

Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.

A sheriff’s deputy and mental health worker participate in a roleplay with Aaron Beeman, right, during CIT training in Princeton, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachian communities have long dealt with high rates of substance use disorder and mental health challenges, and the toll is felt by everyone. The person in crisis. Their families. Even police officers and EMTs. In West Virginia, the problem reached a boiling point during the COVID-19 pandemic. The systems couldn’t handle it. So, a few localities tried something new — and so far, it seems to be working.

Over the last several months, Host Mason Adams spent time with crisis teams in Huntington and Princeton, West Virginia, and produced the following story in collaboration with the Carter Center and the Mental Health Parity Newsroom Collaborative.

A warning, this story contains descriptions of suicide attempts, substance use disorder and mental health crises.

Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration

Quilt for the 23/54 project. 23 of the squares represent the families who signed a lawsuit against the Pulaski County School Board in 1947 for better educational opportunities for 54 Black children.
*Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/RadioIQ*

A Virginia Tech team is collaborating with community groups in Appalachian Virginia to uncover and reclaim forgotten history. Part of the project involves the Calfee Community and Cultural Center in Pulaski. It’s a former school that helped educate Black students in the days before integration.

Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd has more.

Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors

Markings of where the Mountain Valley Pipeline crosses under a gravel road in Monroe County, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Virginia and West Virginia residents near the Mountain Valley Pipeline lived with anxiety for years during its construction. The pipeline went into service and began transporting gas one year ago. And its neighbors are still uneasy about its effects on their lives and property.

WVPB’s Curtis Tate has the story.

In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor

Online gambling has led to a spike in problem gambling among more men -- and younger ones.
*Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Since a U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door, online sports betting is legal around much of the country. Online poker and casino gambling is legal in six states, including at multiple places in Appalachia. As gambling became more mainstream, states have moved to offer resources to help with gambling addiction. In West Virginia, there is the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-GAMBLER.

News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Sheila Moran of First Choice Services, which runs the helpline. She’s also a certified gambling counselor.

Updates In Shape Note Singing

Volunteers in Benton, Kentucky took turns leading the group in shape note singing. They stand in the middle of the singers and dictate the speed of the songs by moving their arm up and down similar a conductor.
*Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/LPM*

A popular songbook for people who sing a style of traditional American music called “shape note singing” is getting an update. The book hasn’t been updated in more than 30 years. Shape note singers are planning a gathering to celebrate and, of course, sing. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom's Justin Hicks reports.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Hello June and John Inghram.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Firework Safety Tips And Youth Gambling Online, This West Virginia Morning Jul 02, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Independence Day is nearly upon us. Soon, firework displays will light up the night sky across West Virginia.

While fireworks can be an opportunity for family fun, medical and fire prevention professionals say they also require important precautions. Mark Lambert, director of the West Virginia State Fire Academy at West Virginia University, spoke with reporter Jack Walker about the best safety practices for firework users.

Also in this episode, online gambling has changed how and when people place bets in recent years. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WVPB’s Chris Schulz reports it's also caused a shift in who is placing those bets.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Maria Young produced today’s episode. Teresa Wills is our host.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Ohio River Cleanup And Possible Cuts To SNAP, This West Virginia Morning Jul 01, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about efforts to improve an important Appalachian waterway, which reaches 14 different states. The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that covers environmental issues, brings us this report on a cleanup of the Ohio River.

Also in this episode, Congress is weighing cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which connects low-income residents with food benefits. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman reports on the prospective changes from Appalachian Kentucky, where more than one in five residents rely on those benefits.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

W.Va. Medicaid Advocates Visit Congress And Nonprofit Relieves Medical Debt, This West Virginia Morning Jun 30, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Congress is reviewing a bill that would significantly cut funding to Medicaid. In recent weeks, we've spoken to West Virginians who worry that could impact their access to health care. And those concerns have carried beyond West Virginia.

Eastern Panhandle Reporter Jack Walker caught up with residents who traveled to the United States Capitol this month to raise their issues with the bill directly to their elected representatives.

Plus, some West Virginians may be receiving an unexpected letter in the mail soon from Undue Medical Debt, informing them that some or all of the money they owe on medical bills has been erased.

Eva Stahl is vice president of the organization, which aims to eliminate medical debt for those who need it most. She spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about how they achieve that goal and why.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Nine kids sitting in a semi-circle around a table. They are listening to an adult man explain something. The table is covered in game pieces for Dungeons and Dragons. — **Dungeons & Dragons And Remembering Jean Horner, Inside Appalachia** Jun 27, 2025
For 15 years,a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game night for teens. It can get a little wacky.

Also, we remember renowned Tennessee luthier, Jean Horner, whose fiddles were played at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. His shop was a destination for fiddle fanatics.

And, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library**

**Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner**

**Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears**

**The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban**

Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library

Roanoke Youth Services Librarian Jeffrey Wood (upper right) conducts a session of Dungeons & Dragons for kids at the Roanoke library.
*Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Every week for the last 15 years, kids have gotten together at the Roanoke Public Library to play Dungeons & Dragons.

Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D for short, is a roleplaying game that allows players to inhabit characters in a fantasy setting. They work together to battle monsters and find treasure, and to tell a shared story in which they’re all the main characters.

Jeffrey Wood is a youth services librarian, and he’s game master for the library’s D&D program. That means he’s the person who prepares each game, and acts as referee as the kids work their way through it.

Host Mason Adams made a couple visits to the Roanoke Public Library and caught up with Wood one of those evenings as he prepared the next episode.

Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner

Jean Horner in his shop.
*Photo by Lynn Dudenbostel/Daily Yonder*

For more than 70 years, Tennessee fiddle maker Jean Horner built instruments that have traveled across the country. His fiddles have been to Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and the Smithsonian.

Horner’s craft was shaped by his roots in Appalachia’s Cumberland Plateau and his fascination with great Italian violin makers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Horner died in January at age 91.

For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Lisa Coffman interviewed Horner at his workshop in 2023 and brings this remembrance.

Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears

Before each ride following the northern route of the Trail of Tears, the group of cyclists prays together.
*Photo Credit: Cynthia Abrams/WPLN News*

For years, a group of cyclists from the Cherokee Nation have embarked on an annual ride from Georgia to Oklahoma. The nearly thousand-mile ride follows the northern route of the Trail of Tears. The trip pays homage to the group’s ancestors, who were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 19th century. The cycling trip involves multiple stops related to the migration, during which thousands of Cherokee died.

One of those stops is Blythe Ferry, Tennessee — the last place the displaced Cherokee people were able to see their homelands. Cynthia Abrams of WPLN has more.

The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban

Rohini Kumar prepares food in New Vrindaban’s deity kitchen.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Last fall, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold made a trip to the small town of New Vrindaban, in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle.

It’s a Hare Krishna community started in the late 1960s. These days, the town is home to a few hundred permanent residents, but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold.

But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Zack’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jean Horner, Erik Vincent Huey, Keith Williams and Myna Belle Williams, Jeff Ellis and Hello June.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave and Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A white man leaning on a counter in his workspace in front of two fiddles. — **Dungeons & Dragons And Remembering Jean Horner, Inside Appalachia** Jun 27, 2025
For 15 years,a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game night for teens. It can get a little wacky.

Also, we remember renowned Tennessee luthier, Jean Horner, whose fiddles were played at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. His shop was a destination for fiddle fanatics.

And, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library**

**Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner**

**Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears**

**The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban**

Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library

Roanoke Youth Services Librarian Jeffrey Wood (upper right) conducts a session of Dungeons & Dragons for kids at the Roanoke library.
*Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Every week for the last 15 years, kids have gotten together at the Roanoke Public Library to play Dungeons & Dragons.

Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D for short, is a roleplaying game that allows players to inhabit characters in a fantasy setting. They work together to battle monsters and find treasure, and to tell a shared story in which they’re all the main characters.

Jeffrey Wood is a youth services librarian, and he’s game master for the library’s D&D program. That means he’s the person who prepares each game, and acts as referee as the kids work their way through it.

Host Mason Adams made a couple visits to the Roanoke Public Library and caught up with Wood one of those evenings as he prepared the next episode.

Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner

Jean Horner in his shop.
*Photo by Lynn Dudenbostel/Daily Yonder*

For more than 70 years, Tennessee fiddle maker Jean Horner built instruments that have traveled across the country. His fiddles have been to Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and the Smithsonian.

Horner’s craft was shaped by his roots in Appalachia’s Cumberland Plateau and his fascination with great Italian violin makers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Horner died in January at age 91.

For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Lisa Coffman interviewed Horner at his workshop in 2023 and brings this remembrance.

Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears

Before each ride following the northern route of the Trail of Tears, the group of cyclists prays together.
*Photo Credit: Cynthia Abrams/WPLN News*

For years, a group of cyclists from the Cherokee Nation have embarked on an annual ride from Georgia to Oklahoma. The nearly thousand-mile ride follows the northern route of the Trail of Tears. The trip pays homage to the group’s ancestors, who were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 19th century. The cycling trip involves multiple stops related to the migration, during which thousands of Cherokee died.

One of those stops is Blythe Ferry, Tennessee — the last place the displaced Cherokee people were able to see their homelands. Cynthia Abrams of WPLN has more.

The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban

Rohini Kumar prepares food in New Vrindaban’s deity kitchen.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Last fall, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold made a trip to the small town of New Vrindaban, in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle.

It’s a Hare Krishna community started in the late 1960s. These days, the town is home to a few hundred permanent residents, but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold.

But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Zack’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jean Horner, Erik Vincent Huey, Keith Williams and Myna Belle Williams, Jeff Ellis and Hello June.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave and Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Literacy Via Dungeons & Dragons And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Jun 27, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, every week for 15 years, kids have gotten together at the Roanoke Public Library to play Dungeons and Dragons, a roleplaying game that allows players to work together to battle monsters and hunt for treasure. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams visited youth services librarian Jeffrey Wood and spoke with him about the longevity of this game at the library.

And our Song of the Week is the cult classic, "I Put A Spell On You." Originally recorded in 1956 by “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins and famously interpreted by Nina Simone, we hear Welsh vocalist Judith Owen perform it this week.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director, and he produced today's episode. Teresa Wills is our host.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Close up of hands holding a pen, ready to sign a document. — **Us & Them: Transgender In The Mountain State** Jun 26, 2025
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling just out upholds a state ban on gender affirming care for transgender minors. The Tennessee case will likely bolster efforts by conservative state lawmakers to regulate care for transgender Americans. It’s the most recent effort in the culture war over gender identity and LGBTQ rights.

On this episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay hears about the fallout from this social and political battle for transgender people in West Virginia. Kay also talks with people shaping the debate over transgender rights.

LGBTQ allies say the legal and legislative efforts deny trans people the right to declare their own gender identity, while some conservative policy makers say transgender women are erasing women’s rights; from privacy in the bathroom to athletic competition.

The transgender population, estimated at less than one percent of America, is a social lightening rod of our culture wars.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, U.S., Jan. 23, 2025.
*Photo Credit: Kevin Larmarque/Reuters*

On Inauguration Day 2025, President Trump signed the first of several executive orders targeting transgender rights. Its title: “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

Over the past decade, the United States has seen a political tug-of-war over transgender rights. In 2016, North Carolina passed the nation’s first so-called “bathroom bill,” requiring people to use restrooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificates. The backlash was swift—tourism, sports events, and business conferences boycotted the state. Even then-presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized the law.

But once elected, Trump reversed course. His administration rolled back many Obama-era protections for LGBTQ people. Since then, federal transgender policies have swung with each new presidency. President Joe Biden restored many protections after taking office in 2021 and pushed for broader safeguards. But during the 2024 campaign, Trump vowed to dismantle Biden’s transgender policies.

Rosemary Ketchum, who lives in Wheeling, West Virginia, became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in the state when she won a seat on Wheeling City Council in 2020. She was recently named grand marshal of the Pride celebration parade in Shepherdstown.
*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“I did not make my campaign about being transgender. We celebrated the kind of historic moment around it and then we got to work. And that was a successful strategy because, frankly, people don't care about it that much. I didn't get calls when I was on city council about people hating me being transgender. They hated that their garbage didn't get picked up on time, or that they liked more public art in their community, or whatever that was. But I do think what we're experiencing now is an example of the pendulum swinging or the backlash from LGBTQ folks kind of entering media or politics.”

— **Rosemary Ketchum, former Wheeling City Council Member**

Rosemary Ketchum chairs a teleconference with colleagues from the West Virginia Nonprofit Association.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

After an unsuccessful 2024 bid for mayor of Wheeling, Rosemary Ketchum became executive director of the West Virginia Nonprofit Association. As a teenager, she was inspired by President Barack Obama and progressive politics she discovered on YouTube. Ketchum launched her public life as a community organizer in Wheeling, focusing on homelessness, racial justice, mental health and LGBTQ equality.

Though no longer in elected office, Ketchum remains politically engaged. When newly elected Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his State of the State address in February 2025, she attended to hear his plans. During the speech, Morrisey announced support for the Riley Gaines Act, which defines individuals strictly as male or female based on their sex assigned at birth.

“And I’m sitting there as a trans person. Whether or not they connected the dots and went, wait a minute, that person is now impacted by this bill, I don’t know. But it felt very surreal, frankly.”

**— Rosemary Ketchum, former Wheeling City Council member**

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signs the Riley Gaines Act into law on March 12, 2025. Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, for whom the law is named, stands behind the governor at right, wearing a yellow blazer.
*Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Governor's Office*

In its 2025 session, the West Virginia Legislature passed the Riley Gaines Act, which defines sex based on a person’s sex assigned at birth and regulates access to bathrooms and other public spaces accordingly. Lawmakers also approved a bill banning public schools from teaching about gender identity.

“Today we sent a strong message that West Virginia stands with women. West Virginia will not bow down to radical gender ideology – we are going to lead with common sense, and the Riley Gaines Act does exactly that. Thank you to Riley, the Independent Women’s Voice, and the many women and girls around the country standing up for what is right.”

**— West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey**

Read more about Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s press release on the signing of the Riley Gaines Act.

Beth Parlato is senior legal advisor for Independent Women, a Virginia-based conservative organization with offices in Washington, D.C. The group, often referred to as IW, is one of the most active in the country supporting laws aimed at preserving rights and protections for biological women.
*Photo courtesy of Beth Parlato*

Beth Parlato says *Independent Women* has worked for years with lawmakers in West Virginia and across the country. She says West Virginia used *IW’s* model legislation for each of its transgender-related bills this year, including the Riley Gaines Act. Named after a former collegiate swimmer from Kentucky who now serves as an *Independent Women* ambassador, the law defines humans strictly as male or female. Gaines has become a vocal critic of what she calls “the extreme agenda to erase women.” As the bill’s drafter, Parlato explains why she believes it’s essential to legally define male and female.

“Because men are self-identifying and invading into women's spaces, including athletics. So it has to be defined. Female has got to be defined - that you are, biologically born female. Men are physiologically and biologically different from women. They're stronger, they are faster, they're taller, they have greater muscle mass, larger hearts, larger lungs, there is an absolute male athletic advantage. And when men are allowed to participate on girls teams. Not only is it unfair, but you're stealing roster spots, you're stealing trophies, you are stealing the girls' opportunities to compete.”

— Beth Parlato, Senior Legal Advisor for *Independent Women*

Ash Lazarus Orr stands in front of a Transgender Pride flag at the Morgantown home he and his husband recently left. They moved out of West Virginia, saying the state feels increasingly unwelcoming to LGBTQ people — particularly those who are transgender.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Elana Redfield is the Federal Policy Director at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.
*Photo courtesy of Williams Institute*

Transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they live in cities and towns across the country. Several advocacy groups now work to bring data and facts to that reality.

One of those organizations is the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Elana Redfield, the institute’s federal policy director, says it was founded more than 20 years ago to address a lack of high-quality data on the experiences of LGBTQ people.

*“Because the data wasn’t great, a lot of policies were enacted based on stereotypes or myths,” Redfield says.*

She adds that data collection on the transgender population has improved significantly in two decades, thanks to better standards for survey questions and more robust methods. The Williams Institute’s population estimates are based on federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have relied upon them [CDC] to get these data in the last several iterations of our population estimates. And what's great about them is that there's a large population, there's a large sample size. So we can say with some degree of certainty that they are accurate. Unfortunately, the current administration has moved to remove gender identity questions from these surveys. So now what we're seeing is that at the federal government level, the data are not being collected, processed, analyzed. And this is also a system that relies upon state participation. So some states might be disincentivized to participate. And even if they did collect the data and share it with the federal government, it wouldn't be all coordinated together and published and analyzed to provide really reliable estimates. So, unfortunately, we’re seeing a little bit of erosion of our ability to use that means to assess population.”

**— Elana Redfield is the Federal Policy Director at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.**

A moving van outside of the home of Ash Lazarus Orr is loaded with belongings just before Ash and his husband move away from this quiet suburban Morgantown neighborhood. The Orrs are leaving because of recent legislation that leaves them feeling unwelcome.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“I am still struggling with the reality that this is my last month here. Because again, this is home. These people are my home. And I love this state. Sorry. I, uh, I love the state and her people. So much. You know, sometimes when you love something, you truly do have to let it go for a bit. And I do hope that this isn't, you know, my final stay in West Virginia. I do hope that one day I can come back and feel safer and feel at home in a state that I love so deeply. But right now to have the future and the safety that I need and my family needs, West Virginia just doesn't have that for me right now.”

**— Ash Lazarus Orr**

A transgender woman with long blond hair wearing a dress and pink sweater poses for a photo smiling. — **Us & Them: Transgender In The Mountain State** Jun 26, 2025
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling just out upholds a state ban on gender affirming care for transgender minors. The Tennessee case will likely bolster efforts by conservative state lawmakers to regulate care for transgender Americans. It’s the most recent effort in the culture war over gender identity and LGBTQ rights.

On this episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay hears about the fallout from this social and political battle for transgender people in West Virginia. Kay also talks with people shaping the debate over transgender rights.

LGBTQ allies say the legal and legislative efforts deny trans people the right to declare their own gender identity, while some conservative policy makers say transgender women are erasing women’s rights; from privacy in the bathroom to athletic competition.

The transgender population, estimated at less than one percent of America, is a social lightening rod of our culture wars.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, U.S., Jan. 23, 2025.
*Photo Credit: Kevin Larmarque/Reuters*

On Inauguration Day 2025, President Trump signed the first of several executive orders targeting transgender rights. Its title: “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

Over the past decade, the United States has seen a political tug-of-war over transgender rights. In 2016, North Carolina passed the nation’s first so-called “bathroom bill,” requiring people to use restrooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificates. The backlash was swift—tourism, sports events, and business conferences boycotted the state. Even then-presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized the law.

But once elected, Trump reversed course. His administration rolled back many Obama-era protections for LGBTQ people. Since then, federal transgender policies have swung with each new presidency. President Joe Biden restored many protections after taking office in 2021 and pushed for broader safeguards. But during the 2024 campaign, Trump vowed to dismantle Biden’s transgender policies.

Rosemary Ketchum, who lives in Wheeling, West Virginia, became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in the state when she won a seat on Wheeling City Council in 2020. She was recently named grand marshal of the Pride celebration parade in Shepherdstown.
*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“I did not make my campaign about being transgender. We celebrated the kind of historic moment around it and then we got to work. And that was a successful strategy because, frankly, people don't care about it that much. I didn't get calls when I was on city council about people hating me being transgender. They hated that their garbage didn't get picked up on time, or that they liked more public art in their community, or whatever that was. But I do think what we're experiencing now is an example of the pendulum swinging or the backlash from LGBTQ folks kind of entering media or politics.”

— **Rosemary Ketchum, former Wheeling City Council Member**

Rosemary Ketchum chairs a teleconference with colleagues from the West Virginia Nonprofit Association.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

After an unsuccessful 2024 bid for mayor of Wheeling, Rosemary Ketchum became executive director of the West Virginia Nonprofit Association. As a teenager, she was inspired by President Barack Obama and progressive politics she discovered on YouTube. Ketchum launched her public life as a community organizer in Wheeling, focusing on homelessness, racial justice, mental health and LGBTQ equality.

Though no longer in elected office, Ketchum remains politically engaged. When newly elected Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his State of the State address in February 2025, she attended to hear his plans. During the speech, Morrisey announced support for the Riley Gaines Act, which defines individuals strictly as male or female based on their sex assigned at birth.

“And I’m sitting there as a trans person. Whether or not they connected the dots and went, wait a minute, that person is now impacted by this bill, I don’t know. But it felt very surreal, frankly.”

**— Rosemary Ketchum, former Wheeling City Council member**

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signs the Riley Gaines Act into law on March 12, 2025. Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, for whom the law is named, stands behind the governor at right, wearing a yellow blazer.
*Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Governor's Office*

In its 2025 session, the West Virginia Legislature passed the Riley Gaines Act, which defines sex based on a person’s sex assigned at birth and regulates access to bathrooms and other public spaces accordingly. Lawmakers also approved a bill banning public schools from teaching about gender identity.

“Today we sent a strong message that West Virginia stands with women. West Virginia will not bow down to radical gender ideology – we are going to lead with common sense, and the Riley Gaines Act does exactly that. Thank you to Riley, the Independent Women’s Voice, and the many women and girls around the country standing up for what is right.”

**— West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey**

Read more about Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s press release on the signing of the Riley Gaines Act.

Beth Parlato is senior legal advisor for Independent Women, a Virginia-based conservative organization with offices in Washington, D.C. The group, often referred to as IW, is one of the most active in the country supporting laws aimed at preserving rights and protections for biological women.
*Photo courtesy of Beth Parlato*

Beth Parlato says *Independent Women* has worked for years with lawmakers in West Virginia and across the country. She says West Virginia used *IW’s* model legislation for each of its transgender-related bills this year, including the Riley Gaines Act. Named after a former collegiate swimmer from Kentucky who now serves as an *Independent Women* ambassador, the law defines humans strictly as male or female. Gaines has become a vocal critic of what she calls “the extreme agenda to erase women.” As the bill’s drafter, Parlato explains why she believes it’s essential to legally define male and female.

“Because men are self-identifying and invading into women's spaces, including athletics. So it has to be defined. Female has got to be defined - that you are, biologically born female. Men are physiologically and biologically different from women. They're stronger, they are faster, they're taller, they have greater muscle mass, larger hearts, larger lungs, there is an absolute male athletic advantage. And when men are allowed to participate on girls teams. Not only is it unfair, but you're stealing roster spots, you're stealing trophies, you are stealing the girls' opportunities to compete.”

— Beth Parlato, Senior Legal Advisor for *Independent Women*

Ash Lazarus Orr stands in front of a Transgender Pride flag at the Morgantown home he and his husband recently left. They moved out of West Virginia, saying the state feels increasingly unwelcoming to LGBTQ people — particularly those who are transgender.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Elana Redfield is the Federal Policy Director at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.
*Photo courtesy of Williams Institute*

Transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they live in cities and towns across the country. Several advocacy groups now work to bring data and facts to that reality.

One of those organizations is the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Elana Redfield, the institute’s federal policy director, says it was founded more than 20 years ago to address a lack of high-quality data on the experiences of LGBTQ people.

*“Because the data wasn’t great, a lot of policies were enacted based on stereotypes or myths,” Redfield says.*

She adds that data collection on the transgender population has improved significantly in two decades, thanks to better standards for survey questions and more robust methods. The Williams Institute’s population estimates are based on federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have relied upon them [CDC] to get these data in the last several iterations of our population estimates. And what's great about them is that there's a large population, there's a large sample size. So we can say with some degree of certainty that they are accurate. Unfortunately, the current administration has moved to remove gender identity questions from these surveys. So now what we're seeing is that at the federal government level, the data are not being collected, processed, analyzed. And this is also a system that relies upon state participation. So some states might be disincentivized to participate. And even if they did collect the data and share it with the federal government, it wouldn't be all coordinated together and published and analyzed to provide really reliable estimates. So, unfortunately, we’re seeing a little bit of erosion of our ability to use that means to assess population.”

**— Elana Redfield is the Federal Policy Director at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.**

A moving van outside of the home of Ash Lazarus Orr is loaded with belongings just before Ash and his husband move away from this quiet suburban Morgantown neighborhood. The Orrs are leaving because of recent legislation that leaves them feeling unwelcome.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“I am still struggling with the reality that this is my last month here. Because again, this is home. These people are my home. And I love this state. Sorry. I, uh, I love the state and her people. So much. You know, sometimes when you love something, you truly do have to let it go for a bit. And I do hope that this isn't, you know, my final stay in West Virginia. I do hope that one day I can come back and feel safer and feel at home in a state that I love so deeply. But right now to have the future and the safety that I need and my family needs, West Virginia just doesn't have that for me right now.”

**— Ash Lazarus Orr**

The Debate Over Transgender Rights And Gaza Residents Seek Medical Care in Kentucky, This West Virginia Morning Jun 26, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling just out upholds a state ban on gender affirming care for transgender minors. The Tennessee case is the most recent chapter in the culture war over LGBTQ rights. From the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears from those shaping the debate over transgender rights.

And a mother and son from Gaza have spent two months in Louisville, Kentucky for medical care that would be nearly impossible to get back home. Louisville Public Media’s Amina Elahi shares this story via the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, a collaboration between NPR and several public radio stations in West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Rally Against Cuts To Medicaid, SNAP And The Future Of The Electric Vehicle Market, This West Virginia Morning Jun 25, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Randy Yohe reports that in a state with many people dependent on federal assistance, health industry workers, care givers, and individuals across West Virginia continue to protest proposed cuts and requirement adjustments to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

And The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region, looks at the market for electric vehicles in the United States.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Housing Challenges Around NUCOR And A Rare Kentucky Firefly, This West Virginia Morning Jun 24, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Mason County's four billion dollar NUCOR steel plant is now more than half way to completion. Randy Yohe reports that with the facility and others on the way, an employee housing challenge looms large throughout this western West Virginia region.

And in the forests outside Louisville, Kentucky the season of the rare Appalachian blue ghost fireflies is at its peak. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman takes us to the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a half hour drive south of Louisville, to learn about the efforts to study the rare Appalachian lightning bug.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Year Of The Mountain Valley Pipeline And Teaching The Cherokee Language, This West Virginia Morning Jun 23, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, a year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline began transporting gas through West Virginia and Virginia, Curtis Tate reports that residents who live near it remain uneasy about its impact on their lives and property.

And in Western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve their language. In 2004, community leaders opened a language immersion school for elementary students. The school also works with a printmaking instructor to create learning materials. For the Rural Remix podcast, reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has this story.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Flood Recovery Efforts And Protesting Possible Medicaid Cuts, This West Virginia Week Jun 21, 2025

On this West Virginia Week, we have the latest on devastating floods to hit two counties in the northern part of the state. We’ll also talk about West Virginians' efforts to halt Medicaid cuts.

Also, we learn about reviving Black coal camps in McDowell County — through farming. And, Juneteenth celebrations across the state — some hope to see change in future years.

Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

An image of a hospital split in half with a illustration cutting through the middle. The image in the illustration reads, "Suite M" and sentences deceased individuals being released out of hospital custody. — **Mission Hospital And Revitalizing The Cherokee Language, Inside Appalachia** Jun 20, 2025
A hospital in Western North Carolina was bought out. Residents say the quality of care has gone down.

Also, an immersion school in North Carolina is trying to revitalize the Cherokee language with the help of a printmaking class.

And, a pair of artists follow cicada hatchings to make art from their shells.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy**

**Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language**

**Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers**

**Turning Cicadas Into Art**

**What To Do “If Lost”**

Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy

Buncombe medical examiners shared their list of morgue concerns with Mission executives and the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) as far back as January 2021, according to emails obtained by Asheville Watchdog.
*Photo by Starr Sariego; photo illustration by Andrew R. Jones*

People in rural areas across the U.S. are struggling to access health care. Hospitals are closing at alarming rates. Some that stay open offer reduced services. Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina serves both the city and the surrounding counties. In recent years, it’s come under scrutiny and has been investigated by the federal government. Andrew Jones has been covering Mission Hospital for the Asheville Watchdog.

Jones spoke with *Inside Appalachia* Host Mason Adams.

Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language

The New Kituwah Academy is a Cherokee language immersion program, created to revitalize the language by teaching a new generation of speakers.
*Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily Yonder*

In Western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve their language. To help revitalize their dialect, community leaders opened the New Kituwah Academy in 2005. It’s a language immersion school for elementary students. The school partnered with a printmaking instructor at Western Carolina University to create materials to help students learn.

For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has this story.

Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers

All second graders in Pocahontas County public schools learn to ski through a partnership with Nature's Mountain Classroom.
*Courtesy of Tracey Valach/Nature’s Mountain Classroom*

West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort is one of Appalachia’s premier destinations for winter sports. But while tourists flock to the resort each year, it’s had problems attracting locals. Until a local woman came up with an idea for how to change that.

WVPB’s Maria Young has more.

Turning Cicadas Into Art

In plastic soup containers, artist Diego Miró-Rivera collects thousands of cicada shells in Kentucky that will become part of artwork.
*Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/Louisville Public Media*

Across Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Brood XIV cicadas have emerged and covered the region in their loud drone. Although some folks are annoyed by cicadas, others find profound meaning.

Louisville Public Media’s Justin Hicks has more.

What To Do “If Lost”

Poet and poetry organizer, Clint Bowman, says the best way to read poetry in front of people is to read poetry in front of people.
*Courtesy Photo*

When North Carolina resident Clint Bowman couldn’t find the writing group he needed, he formed the Dark City Poets Society in Black Mountain. Bowman has used the group to develop his poetry, some of which explores people and their connection to nature.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bowman last fall about his collection, *If Lost*.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, John Inghram, John Blissard, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A sign outside of a building that reads, "New Kituwah Academy" in the Cherokee and English languages. — **Mission Hospital And Revitalizing The Cherokee Language, Inside Appalachia** Jun 20, 2025
A hospital in Western North Carolina was bought out. Residents say the quality of care has gone down.

Also, an immersion school in North Carolina is trying to revitalize the Cherokee language with the help of a printmaking class.

And, a pair of artists follow cicada hatchings to make art from their shells.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy**

**Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language**

**Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers**

**Turning Cicadas Into Art**

**What To Do “If Lost”**

Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy

Buncombe medical examiners shared their list of morgue concerns with Mission executives and the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) as far back as January 2021, according to emails obtained by Asheville Watchdog.
*Photo by Starr Sariego; photo illustration by Andrew R. Jones*

People in rural areas across the U.S. are struggling to access health care. Hospitals are closing at alarming rates. Some that stay open offer reduced services. Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina serves both the city and the surrounding counties. In recent years, it’s come under scrutiny and has been investigated by the federal government. Andrew Jones has been covering Mission Hospital for the Asheville Watchdog.

Jones spoke with *Inside Appalachia* Host Mason Adams.

Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language

The New Kituwah Academy is a Cherokee language immersion program, created to revitalize the language by teaching a new generation of speakers.
*Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily Yonder*

In Western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve their language. To help revitalize their dialect, community leaders opened the New Kituwah Academy in 2005. It’s a language immersion school for elementary students. The school partnered with a printmaking instructor at Western Carolina University to create materials to help students learn.

For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has this story.

Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers

All second graders in Pocahontas County public schools learn to ski through a partnership with Nature's Mountain Classroom.
*Courtesy of Tracey Valach/Nature’s Mountain Classroom*

West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort is one of Appalachia’s premier destinations for winter sports. But while tourists flock to the resort each year, it’s had problems attracting locals. Until a local woman came up with an idea for how to change that.

WVPB’s Maria Young has more.

Turning Cicadas Into Art

In plastic soup containers, artist Diego Miró-Rivera collects thousands of cicada shells in Kentucky that will become part of artwork.
*Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/Louisville Public Media*

Across Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Brood XIV cicadas have emerged and covered the region in their loud drone. Although some folks are annoyed by cicadas, others find profound meaning.

Louisville Public Media’s Justin Hicks has more.

What To Do “If Lost”

Poet and poetry organizer, Clint Bowman, says the best way to read poetry in front of people is to read poetry in front of people.
*Courtesy Photo*

When North Carolina resident Clint Bowman couldn’t find the writing group he needed, he formed the Dark City Poets Society in Black Mountain. Bowman has used the group to develop his poetry, some of which explores people and their connection to nature.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bowman last fall about his collection, *If Lost*.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, John Inghram, John Blissard, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Reviving Black Coal Camps And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Jun 19, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about a McDowell County resident's efforts to restore a historically Black coal camp through farming. The coal industry was booming in the early 20th century, but the decline of coal meant Black coal camps began to dwindle, too. Tiara Brown reports.

Plus, this week's encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features a performance from singer, songwriter, poet and Grammy Award winner Carrie Newcomer. Our Song of the Week is her Mountain Stage rendition of “Take More Time, Cover Less Ground” from her 2023 album “A Great Wild Mercy.”

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Retracing The Trail Of Tears And Summertime Stargazing, This West Virginia Morning Jun 17, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, a group of bicyclists from the Cherokee Nation have spent the last four decades taking an annual ride spanning nearly 1,000 miles, from New Echota, Georgia to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Between 1830 and 1850, the United States government forcibly displaced roughly 60,000 Native Americans along this route — an arduous journey that claimed thousands of lives.

The present-day bike ride retraces the northern route of the Trail of Tears, with participants honoring the ancestors forcibly removed from their homelands. WPLN's Cynthia Adams caught up with the group on the fifth leg of their journey, and brings us this report from the heart of Tennessee.

Also in this episode, we have new stargazing tips from radio and television program Almost Heavens. Shannon Silverman, an astrophysicist at the Clay Center in Charleston, guides us through the cosmos above the mountains of West Virginia, and tells us what you can see with the naked eye in the summer sky.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Tucker County Microgrid Opposition And Shape Note Singing, This West Virginia Morning Jun 16, 2025

Energy microgrids have been touted as an economic boon for West Virginia. But as Chris Schulz reports, a grassroots organization in Tucker County is coalescing in opposition to one of the first such developments in the state.

Plus, people who perform a traditional style of American music called “shape note singing” are publishing a new edition of music and planning a gathering to celebrate and, of course, sing. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports that singers are excited for this once-in-a-generation event.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Chris Schulz produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Clean Energy Tax Credits, Gambling Addiction Recovery And A New Theater Production, This West Virginia Week Jun 14, 2025

On this West Virginia Week, Congress may soon eliminate tax credits for clean energy projects, which would place hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in West Virginia at risk. We hear from a former state official who opposes the proposed legislation.

In this episode, we’ll also dive deeper into our discussion on problem gambling in the state, and hear about the path to recovery from gambling addiction, and learn about a new play regarding immigration and identity in West Virginia.

Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Picture frames on a table of a Black coal camp. The card above it reads, "Pocahantas and Consolidated Fuel Co. Mine, Berwind, W.Va. 1930s." — **Saving A Black Coal Camp And Affrilachian Poets, Inside Appalachia** Jun 13, 2025
A West Virginia man is reviving an historic Black coal camp through farming.

Also, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.

And, the Reverend George Mills Dickerson of Tazewell, Virginia, was born in the years after slavery ended. He’s remembered during Juneteenth through his poetry.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming**

**Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"**

**Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp**

**Hip Hop History In W.Va.**

**Generations Of Black Poets Carry On In Tazwell, Virginia**

Torli Bush’s Book, *Requiem for a Redbird*

Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming

Photos from the Black coal camp in Berwind, W.Va.
*Courtesy of Black by God, the West Virginian*

In the early 20th century, the coal industry was booming in Appalachia. That made the region a destination for Black migrants from the Deep South, who were moving northward in search of new jobs. Black communities thrived in Appalachia during the boom. But as coal employment declined, Black coal camps began to dwindle.

Now, a West Virginia man is reviving one of those coal camps — through farming.

Tiara Brown reports with support from Black By God, the West Virginian.

Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"

*Load in Nine Times*, by Frank X Walker.
*Courtesy Photo*

The word “Affrilachia” was coined by Kentucky poet Frank X Walker in 1991. That’s when he co-founded the Affrilachian Poets Collective to challenge the idea that Appalachian identity is defined by whiteness. Walker says the word Affrilachia, “spoke to the union of Appalachian identity and the region’s African American culture and history.”

He’s published several collections of poetry. Last fall, Host Mason Adams spoke with Walker about his latest, *Load in Nine Times*.

Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp

Students interact during the poetry workshop.
*Photo Credit: Traci Phillips/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Affrilachian poet and playwright Norman Jordan was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement through the 1960s and 1970s. He was also one of the most published poets in the region, anthologized in at least 42 books. He died in 2015 at the age of 77.

Along with his writing, Jordan left another legacy. A summer camp for teens to learn music, theater and dance.

Last summer, Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips visited the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy in Westover, West Virginia. Traci brought us this story.

Hip-Hop History In W.Va.

Shelem at his home studio in Charleston, West Virginia, demonstrating his workflow and organization.
*Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In 2023, communities all around the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, marking a summer day in 1973 when DJ Kool Herc used two turntables to extend a funky drum break. Over the past half century, hip-hop has gone from a marginalized art form to a mainstream powerhouse. It developed in major metropolitan centers like New York, Los Angeles and the Dirty South.

But hip-hop has taken root in Appalachia, too, and it thrives in places like Charleston, West Virginia.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Vanessa Peña had this story.

Generations Of Black Poets Live On Through Tazwell, Virginia Family

Rev. George Mills Dickerson, center, surrounded by his sons, many of whom moved away to pursue higher education.
*Courtesy of Jeanette Wilson*

Poetry is a tradition in Jeanette Wilson’s family. They’ve recited the poems of Wilson’s grandfather and her uncle George for nearly 100 years. Now, these poems about African American life in southwestern Virginia are read during the Juneteenth celebration in Tazewell, Virginia — where they reach a wider audience and connect the past to the present.

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts brought us the story.

Torli Bush’s Book, *Requiem for a Redbird*

Torli Bush.
*Courtesy Photo*

We’ve highlighted several of today's Black Appalachian poets. One of the region’s emerging voices is Torli Bush, who grew up in Webster Springs, West Virginia. He developed his work, in part, through poetry slams in Pittsburgh.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bush about his book, *Requiem For a Redbird*.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Carpenter Ants, Tim Bing, Bob Thompson and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave, Jennifer Goren and Clara Haizlett.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A Black Union Soldier on the cover of a book. — **Saving A Black Coal Camp And Affrilachian Poets, Inside Appalachia** Jun 13, 2025
A West Virginia man is reviving an historic Black coal camp through farming.

Also, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.

And, the Reverend George Mills Dickerson of Tazewell, Virginia, was born in the years after slavery ended. He’s remembered during Juneteenth through his poetry.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming**

**Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"**

**Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp**

**Hip Hop History In W.Va.**

**Generations Of Black Poets Carry On In Tazwell, Virginia**

Torli Bush’s Book, *Requiem for a Redbird*

Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming

Photos from the Black coal camp in Berwind, W.Va.
*Courtesy of Black by God, the West Virginian*

In the early 20th century, the coal industry was booming in Appalachia. That made the region a destination for Black migrants from the Deep South, who were moving northward in search of new jobs. Black communities thrived in Appalachia during the boom. But as coal employment declined, Black coal camps began to dwindle.

Now, a West Virginia man is reviving one of those coal camps — through farming.

Tiara Brown reports with support from Black By God, the West Virginian.

Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"

*Load in Nine Times*, by Frank X Walker.
*Courtesy Photo*

The word “Affrilachia” was coined by Kentucky poet Frank X Walker in 1991. That’s when he co-founded the Affrilachian Poets Collective to challenge the idea that Appalachian identity is defined by whiteness. Walker says the word Affrilachia, “spoke to the union of Appalachian identity and the region’s African American culture and history.”

He’s published several collections of poetry. Last fall, Host Mason Adams spoke with Walker about his latest, *Load in Nine Times*.

Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp

Students interact during the poetry workshop.
*Photo Credit: Traci Phillips/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Affrilachian poet and playwright Norman Jordan was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement through the 1960s and 1970s. He was also one of the most published poets in the region, anthologized in at least 42 books. He died in 2015 at the age of 77.

Along with his writing, Jordan left another legacy. A summer camp for teens to learn music, theater and dance.

Last summer, Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips visited the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy in Westover, West Virginia. Traci brought us this story.

Hip-Hop History In W.Va.

Shelem at his home studio in Charleston, West Virginia, demonstrating his workflow and organization.
*Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In 2023, communities all around the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, marking a summer day in 1973 when DJ Kool Herc used two turntables to extend a funky drum break. Over the past half century, hip-hop has gone from a marginalized art form to a mainstream powerhouse. It developed in major metropolitan centers like New York, Los Angeles and the Dirty South.

But hip-hop has taken root in Appalachia, too, and it thrives in places like Charleston, West Virginia.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Vanessa Peña had this story.

Generations Of Black Poets Live On Through Tazwell, Virginia Family

Rev. George Mills Dickerson, center, surrounded by his sons, many of whom moved away to pursue higher education.
*Courtesy of Jeanette Wilson*

Poetry is a tradition in Jeanette Wilson’s family. They’ve recited the poems of Wilson’s grandfather and her uncle George for nearly 100 years. Now, these poems about African American life in southwestern Virginia are read during the Juneteenth celebration in Tazewell, Virginia — where they reach a wider audience and connect the past to the present.

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts brought us the story.

Torli Bush’s Book, *Requiem for a Redbird*

Torli Bush.
*Courtesy Photo*

We’ve highlighted several of today's Black Appalachian poets. One of the region’s emerging voices is Torli Bush, who grew up in Webster Springs, West Virginia. He developed his work, in part, through poetry slams in Pittsburgh.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bush about his book, *Requiem For a Redbird*.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Carpenter Ants, Tim Bing, Bob Thompson and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave, Jennifer Goren and Clara Haizlett.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A W.Va. Immigration Story Told On Stage And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Jun 13, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) returns to the campus of Shepherd University next month, bringing actors and creatives from across the country together to premiere five new productions.

Featured among them is the festival’s first play written by a West Virginian. Jack Walker caught up with Marion County native Cody LeRoy Wilson about the production — plus his journey from rural West Virginia to the world of theater.

Also, our Song of the Week is “Life Is Just A Vapor” by Paul Thorn. This is the title track on Life is Just a Vapor, which was released earlier this year via Thirty Tigers.

Thorn is a Mississippi native who started off as a professional boxer, turning to songwriting in the 1990s. He has been a guest on Mountain Stage over 10 times and continues to win us all over with his poignant and often hilarious songs and storytelling.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A young woman stands in a colorful waiting room. There are flowers painted on the wall. — **Us & Them Encore: The Geography Of Abortion** Jun 12, 2025
State borders are the new front lines in the nation’s abortion battle. On this encore episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay looks at the evolving geography of abortion.

Since a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned federal abortion rights, 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion access, including West Virginia. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s neighbor, Maryland, is one of 22 states that are protecting abortion rights and expanding access.

Kay follows the decision of Women’s Health Center of West Virginia to move its abortion services from Charleston to a new clinic just over the border near Cumberland, Maryland. The move was intentional because Western Maryland, like West Virginia, is a so-called abortion desert. The two regions have some deep political and cultural similarities. Western Maryland Republicans say they feel ignored by the overwhelmingly liberal, Democratic legislature in Annapolis. They say the new abortion clinic is not wanted or needed in their part of Maryland, and they blame the clinic’s presence on the fallout from *Roe v. Wade’s* defeat.

This *Us & Them* episode was recently honored by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters as Best Podcast of 2024.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, and the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Katie Quiñonez stood in the waiting room of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, located about 10 miles south of Cumberland, Maryland. Quiñonez is executive director of this health center. She is also the executive director of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which is located in Charleston and was West Virginia’s only abortion clinic until that state banned abortion in September 2022. The West Virginia center still provides reproductive health services, but in the summer of 2023, the Women’s Health Center relocated its abortion services to the Maryland clinic which is less than two miles from the West Virginia border.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Subsequent to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in June 2022, Gov. Jim Justice signed a measure into law that banned abortions in West Virginia, with limited exceptions. Justice called the signed bill the “protect life” law. The law bans abortions in West Virginia except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger, or instances of rape and incest that are reported to law enforcement in a timely manner. Any abortion must be performed in a hospital within eight weeks for adults and 14 weeks for minors.
*“I believe wholeheartedly that it does one thing that is absolutely so important. It does protect life.”*
**— West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice**

Abortion access in the U.S. varied widely even during the Roe v. Wade era. Some states had lots of clinics, others had just a few. But every state had at least one. That changed when Dobbs ended the federal right to an abortion and let states come up with their own regulations.
Now, abortion access has become even more fragmented and deeply polarized. Fourteen states, including West Virginia, have essentially banned abortion. They have become what some call “abortion deserts.” Seven states have imposed stricter legal limits, while 22 states have moved to protect abortion rights and expand access. Maryland is one of those states.
In May 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved laws that do several things. They allow a wider range of medical professionals to perform abortions. They maintain the privacy of abortion-related medical records. And they shield doctors and others from criminal investigations by states with more restrictive abortion laws.
“I'm very proud to sign legislation that will protect access to abortion in Maryland. In this moment of serious consequences for women and for all Marylanders, Maryland can and will lead on this issue of abortion access. And I want to say to all women who are out there who are wondering what will happen. Who are worried about their future. Please hear me loud and clear. Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access and abortion rights.”
**— Maryland Gov. Wes Moore**
*Photo Credit: Gov. Wes Moore’s X (Twitter) Post*

Maryland Democrats, who control the state’s legislature, want abortion rights written into the state constitution. The General Assembly has placed a reproductive rights amendment on the ballot for November 2024. Democratic Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk chairs the House Delegates’ Health and Government Services Committee, where the amendment was first considered. She said an abortion rights amendment is necessary, even though Maryland has been a reliably blue state for a long time.
“It's necessary because we feel very strongly that we want Maryland to remain a state that protects abortion access. On the ballot this November, Maryland voters will once again be able to affirmatively and resoundingly say their reproductive freedom should be a constitutional right. It is the highest protection that we can give our constituents.”
**— Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk**
*Photo Courtesy of Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D), MD 21*

Maryland’s drive to protect abortion rights and access has attracted OB-GYNs to the state including Dr. Anne Banfield. She moved her practice to a hospital system in Southern Maryland after working for 13 years at a hospital in Elkins, West Virginia. ]
“I had spent a lot of years trying to recruit to our practice there and working a lot of shifts, taking a lot of calls. And then on top of that, you know, trying to advocate within the state, trying to advocate at the state government level to protect reproductive rights in West Virginia. And I got this great opportunity in Maryland, which is a very friendly and protective state from a women's health and reproductive health standpoint. And we saw the writing on the wall, and I knew I was coming here and I was going to have to work less in a more friendly environment, and I just couldn't pass that up. I don’t think I would have left otherwise.”
**— Dr. Anne Banfield, OB-GYN**
*Photo Credit: Dr. Anne Banfield/MedStar St. Mary's Hospital*

Cresta Kowalski is the president of the Mountain Maryland Alliance for Reproductive Freedom. She said prior to the opening of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, her group had been exploring how to bring an abortion clinic to Western Maryland.
“We were like, OK, a five to 10 year goal would be an indie clinic out here in mountain Maryland. And then in January, I get an email saying, ‘Hi, I'm Katie Quiñonez and my friend Ramsie Monk and I work with the Women's Health Center of Charleston and we'd like to speak with you.’ And they had already found the location and it was perfect. It was made for the operation … I was relieved that we could have options for people that didn't have options.”
**— Cresta Kowalski**
*Photo Credit: Cresta Kowalski/Facebook*

Michael Mudge is the pastor and founder of Bethany House of the Lord, an evangelical Christian church. He and several other anti-abortion advocates from Western Maryland came together to form Abortion Free Allegeny. He said their goals are to let people know about the clinic, organize demonstrations against it, and raise awareness about pregnancy support centers and other abortion alternatives. Mudge said he and others opposed to abortion do not like having a clinic in their backyard, but he knows it has a right to be there.
“What we're dealing with here in Allegheny County, Maryland, is a direct result of the Dobbs decision. The West Virginia Legislature took the opportunity after the Dobbs decision to pass legislation effectively banning abortion. And the Maryland state legislature, as in many other states, has responded to the Dobbs decision by radicalizing even more their pro-abortion legislation. So, we're caught up in the middle of that. It's just that here, we're in a part of Maryland that doesn't fit well in Maryland.”
**— Michael Mudge**
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Mudge referred to the political segregation that has deepened in Maryland as it has across the country.

There’s the rural, conservative, Republican Maryland of the western panhandle, the eastern Chesapeake Bay, and the counties north of Baltimore. And there’s the urban, liberal, Democratic Maryland of Baltimore City, Annapolis, and the D.C. suburbs that dominates state politics.

David Karol, an associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland said it wasn’t always like this.

Karol said his students were surprised to learn that in the presidential election of 1988, Republican George H. W. Bush won Maryland while Democrat Mike Dukakis won West Virginia.“Which, you know, is just shocking to students because that's a complete reversal of the alignment that we see today,” Karol said.

“The [Maryland] legislature has been Democratic for about 100 years. The governorship has occasionally gone to Republicans, but seldom. And in presidential elections, Maryland has voted Democratic consistently since 1992.”
**— David Karol**
*Photo Credit: David Karol/University of Maryland*

Republican Mike McKay has represented Western Maryland in the Maryland General Assembly since 2015, first as a delegate and, for the last year, as a senator. He said his constituents have felt out of step with their overwhelmingly liberal Democrat fellow Marylanders. In 2021, then-Del. McKay and five other Republican lawmakers floated the idea of Garrett, Allegeny and Washington counties seceding from Maryland to become a part of West Virginia. They wrote a letter to the Republican leaders of West Virginia’s legislature to gauge their interest. It was a very, very long shot.
“We sent a letter and it became a dumpster fire, to be perfectly honest,” said McKay. “Everybody went crazy - ‘How are you leaving?’ Yada yada yada. And two of our members backed out. And the rest of us out of respect really just went our separate ways.”
McKay said his constituents are more aligned with West Virginia on abortion, too. He described himself as “pro-life” and said the Women’s Health Center of Maryland is not wanted or needed.
“I had a reporter from the Washington Post call me and do an interview, and she asked me, ‘How do you feel about this abortion clinic just moving across the state line, across the Potomac?’ I said, there's never been a need for it. If there was a need for Planned Parenthood to move here, if there was actually this need, they would have been here by now. We have had women's health clinics here for years. Probably 90 percent of everything that Planned Parenthood provides for women. And it's important. That 90 percent is important to urban and rural women. It's the abortion part that I say has been forced on our community, because Annapolis and Charleston had totally two different views, and our community has had to deal with the aftermath.”
**— Sen. Mike McKay**
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Katie Quiñonez said she’s not forcing anything on Western Maryland.
“We did a market analysis and looked at what health care was available in those counties in mountain Maryland. And we found that not only was there not an abortion provider, the nearest abortion providers for the people living in mountain Maryland were at least 100 miles away in any direction. But there was also a real lack of reproductive health care, outside of a hospital system located in Cumberland. And then beyond that, we met directly with folks on the ground living and working in those communities to determine that, yes, there is a need here. Not only do we need abortion access, we need reproductive health care.”
**— Katie Quiñonez**
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

This is what abortion care has become after the fall of *Roe*: a state-by-state fight over access, where abortion rights are determined by the lines on a map. The state line that divides West Virginia and Maryland runs through mountain communities that are alike in their topography, their culture and their political affiliations.

But on one side of that state line abortion is legal, while on the other side abortion is a criminal offense.

A large man sits in a chair wearing formal attire. Next to him, in a lower chair, is an English Bulldog. — **Us & Them Encore: The Geography Of Abortion** Jun 12, 2025
State borders are the new front lines in the nation’s abortion battle. On this encore episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay looks at the evolving geography of abortion.

Since a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned federal abortion rights, 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion access, including West Virginia. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s neighbor, Maryland, is one of 22 states that are protecting abortion rights and expanding access.

Kay follows the decision of Women’s Health Center of West Virginia to move its abortion services from Charleston to a new clinic just over the border near Cumberland, Maryland. The move was intentional because Western Maryland, like West Virginia, is a so-called abortion desert. The two regions have some deep political and cultural similarities. Western Maryland Republicans say they feel ignored by the overwhelmingly liberal, Democratic legislature in Annapolis. They say the new abortion clinic is not wanted or needed in their part of Maryland, and they blame the clinic’s presence on the fallout from *Roe v. Wade’s* defeat.

This *Us & Them* episode was recently honored by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters as Best Podcast of 2024.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, and the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Katie Quiñonez stood in the waiting room of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, located about 10 miles south of Cumberland, Maryland. Quiñonez is executive director of this health center. She is also the executive director of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which is located in Charleston and was West Virginia’s only abortion clinic until that state banned abortion in September 2022. The West Virginia center still provides reproductive health services, but in the summer of 2023, the Women’s Health Center relocated its abortion services to the Maryland clinic which is less than two miles from the West Virginia border.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Subsequent to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in June 2022, Gov. Jim Justice signed a measure into law that banned abortions in West Virginia, with limited exceptions. Justice called the signed bill the “protect life” law. The law bans abortions in West Virginia except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger, or instances of rape and incest that are reported to law enforcement in a timely manner. Any abortion must be performed in a hospital within eight weeks for adults and 14 weeks for minors.
*“I believe wholeheartedly that it does one thing that is absolutely so important. It does protect life.”*
**— West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice**

Abortion access in the U.S. varied widely even during the Roe v. Wade era. Some states had lots of clinics, others had just a few. But every state had at least one. That changed when Dobbs ended the federal right to an abortion and let states come up with their own regulations.
Now, abortion access has become even more fragmented and deeply polarized. Fourteen states, including West Virginia, have essentially banned abortion. They have become what some call “abortion deserts.” Seven states have imposed stricter legal limits, while 22 states have moved to protect abortion rights and expand access. Maryland is one of those states.
In May 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved laws that do several things. They allow a wider range of medical professionals to perform abortions. They maintain the privacy of abortion-related medical records. And they shield doctors and others from criminal investigations by states with more restrictive abortion laws.
“I'm very proud to sign legislation that will protect access to abortion in Maryland. In this moment of serious consequences for women and for all Marylanders, Maryland can and will lead on this issue of abortion access. And I want to say to all women who are out there who are wondering what will happen. Who are worried about their future. Please hear me loud and clear. Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access and abortion rights.”
**— Maryland Gov. Wes Moore**
*Photo Credit: Gov. Wes Moore’s X (Twitter) Post*

Maryland Democrats, who control the state’s legislature, want abortion rights written into the state constitution. The General Assembly has placed a reproductive rights amendment on the ballot for November 2024. Democratic Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk chairs the House Delegates’ Health and Government Services Committee, where the amendment was first considered. She said an abortion rights amendment is necessary, even though Maryland has been a reliably blue state for a long time.
“It's necessary because we feel very strongly that we want Maryland to remain a state that protects abortion access. On the ballot this November, Maryland voters will once again be able to affirmatively and resoundingly say their reproductive freedom should be a constitutional right. It is the highest protection that we can give our constituents.”
**— Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk**
*Photo Courtesy of Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D), MD 21*

Maryland’s drive to protect abortion rights and access has attracted OB-GYNs to the state including Dr. Anne Banfield. She moved her practice to a hospital system in Southern Maryland after working for 13 years at a hospital in Elkins, West Virginia. ]
“I had spent a lot of years trying to recruit to our practice there and working a lot of shifts, taking a lot of calls. And then on top of that, you know, trying to advocate within the state, trying to advocate at the state government level to protect reproductive rights in West Virginia. And I got this great opportunity in Maryland, which is a very friendly and protective state from a women's health and reproductive health standpoint. And we saw the writing on the wall, and I knew I was coming here and I was going to have to work less in a more friendly environment, and I just couldn't pass that up. I don’t think I would have left otherwise.”
**— Dr. Anne Banfield, OB-GYN**
*Photo Credit: Dr. Anne Banfield/MedStar St. Mary's Hospital*

Cresta Kowalski is the president of the Mountain Maryland Alliance for Reproductive Freedom. She said prior to the opening of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, her group had been exploring how to bring an abortion clinic to Western Maryland.
“We were like, OK, a five to 10 year goal would be an indie clinic out here in mountain Maryland. And then in January, I get an email saying, ‘Hi, I'm Katie Quiñonez and my friend Ramsie Monk and I work with the Women's Health Center of Charleston and we'd like to speak with you.’ And they had already found the location and it was perfect. It was made for the operation … I was relieved that we could have options for people that didn't have options.”
**— Cresta Kowalski**
*Photo Credit: Cresta Kowalski/Facebook*

Michael Mudge is the pastor and founder of Bethany House of the Lord, an evangelical Christian church. He and several other anti-abortion advocates from Western Maryland came together to form Abortion Free Allegeny. He said their goals are to let people know about the clinic, organize demonstrations against it, and raise awareness about pregnancy support centers and other abortion alternatives. Mudge said he and others opposed to abortion do not like having a clinic in their backyard, but he knows it has a right to be there.
“What we're dealing with here in Allegheny County, Maryland, is a direct result of the Dobbs decision. The West Virginia Legislature took the opportunity after the Dobbs decision to pass legislation effectively banning abortion. And the Maryland state legislature, as in many other states, has responded to the Dobbs decision by radicalizing even more their pro-abortion legislation. So, we're caught up in the middle of that. It's just that here, we're in a part of Maryland that doesn't fit well in Maryland.”
**— Michael Mudge**
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Mudge referred to the political segregation that has deepened in Maryland as it has across the country.

There’s the rural, conservative, Republican Maryland of the western panhandle, the eastern Chesapeake Bay, and the counties north of Baltimore. And there’s the urban, liberal, Democratic Maryland of Baltimore City, Annapolis, and the D.C. suburbs that dominates state politics.

David Karol, an associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland said it wasn’t always like this.

Karol said his students were surprised to learn that in the presidential election of 1988, Republican George H. W. Bush won Maryland while Democrat Mike Dukakis won West Virginia.“Which, you know, is just shocking to students because that's a complete reversal of the alignment that we see today,” Karol said.

“The [Maryland] legislature has been Democratic for about 100 years. The governorship has occasionally gone to Republicans, but seldom. And in presidential elections, Maryland has voted Democratic consistently since 1992.”
**— David Karol**
*Photo Credit: David Karol/University of Maryland*

Republican Mike McKay has represented Western Maryland in the Maryland General Assembly since 2015, first as a delegate and, for the last year, as a senator. He said his constituents have felt out of step with their overwhelmingly liberal Democrat fellow Marylanders. In 2021, then-Del. McKay and five other Republican lawmakers floated the idea of Garrett, Allegeny and Washington counties seceding from Maryland to become a part of West Virginia. They wrote a letter to the Republican leaders of West Virginia’s legislature to gauge their interest. It was a very, very long shot.
“We sent a letter and it became a dumpster fire, to be perfectly honest,” said McKay. “Everybody went crazy - ‘How are you leaving?’ Yada yada yada. And two of our members backed out. And the rest of us out of respect really just went our separate ways.”
McKay said his constituents are more aligned with West Virginia on abortion, too. He described himself as “pro-life” and said the Women’s Health Center of Maryland is not wanted or needed.
“I had a reporter from the Washington Post call me and do an interview, and she asked me, ‘How do you feel about this abortion clinic just moving across the state line, across the Potomac?’ I said, there's never been a need for it. If there was a need for Planned Parenthood to move here, if there was actually this need, they would have been here by now. We have had women's health clinics here for years. Probably 90 percent of everything that Planned Parenthood provides for women. And it's important. That 90 percent is important to urban and rural women. It's the abortion part that I say has been forced on our community, because Annapolis and Charleston had totally two different views, and our community has had to deal with the aftermath.”
**— Sen. Mike McKay**
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Katie Quiñonez said she’s not forcing anything on Western Maryland.
“We did a market analysis and looked at what health care was available in those counties in mountain Maryland. And we found that not only was there not an abortion provider, the nearest abortion providers for the people living in mountain Maryland were at least 100 miles away in any direction. But there was also a real lack of reproductive health care, outside of a hospital system located in Cumberland. And then beyond that, we met directly with folks on the ground living and working in those communities to determine that, yes, there is a need here. Not only do we need abortion access, we need reproductive health care.”
**— Katie Quiñonez**
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

This is what abortion care has become after the fall of *Roe*: a state-by-state fight over access, where abortion rights are determined by the lines on a map. The state line that divides West Virginia and Maryland runs through mountain communities that are alike in their topography, their culture and their political affiliations.

But on one side of that state line abortion is legal, while on the other side abortion is a criminal offense.

Clean Energy Tax Credits And Abortion Deserts, This West Virginia Morning Jun 12, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Congress is reviewing legislation that would end tax credits for clean energy projects, risking hundreds of millions of dollars in investments and jobs in West Virginia.

Curtis Tate spoke with Mitch Carmichael, former West Virginia economic development secretary, who supports preserving the tax credits.

Also in this episode, we revisit a 2024 podcast episode that received top honors from the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters. In it, Us & Them host Trey Kay explores the shifting geography of abortion access.

Kay follows the story of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which relocated its abortion services from Charleston to a clinic across the state line in western Maryland — a region that, like much of West Virginia, is considered an abortion desert.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Gambling Addiction Recovery And Forever Chemical Removal, This West Virginia Morning Jun 11, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we take a look at what recovering from problem gambling can look like in West Virginia. As part of an ongoing series on problem gambling, News Director Eric Douglas spoke with a resident about her experiences recovering from gambling addiction, and how she is helping others find the same path.

Also in this episode, water providers in neighboring Pennsylvania say they are removing PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” from drinking water just as the Trump administration threatens to weaken federal regulations adopted last year.

Zoe Read with public radio station WHYY visited Aqua Pennsylvania, one of the state’s largest drinking water providers, to learn more.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Statewide Review Of Child Welfare And A Trip To DC For WorldPride, This West Virginia Morning Jun 10, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) is in the process of analyzing the data gathered over eight listening sessions held last month with people in various aspects of the state’s child welfare system.

Assistant News Director Maria Young spoke with DoHS Secretary Alex Mayer about takeaways from those sessions and the courses of action ahead.

Also in this episode, a Hardy County LGBTQ group traveled to the nation’s capital this weekend for an international event. Jack Walker caught up with them at the WorldPride parade, and brings us the report.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Resuming Black Lung Research And Bolstering Cyclist Tourism, This West Virginia Morning Jun 09, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, federal spending cuts have slowed the ability to help miners with black lung, according to those who attended an annual conference last week, even after a court order to resume the work. Curtis Tate has the story from the Pipestem Resort.

Plus, tourism leaders in Charleston have launched a new campaign that builds on the success of the capitol city’s five year contract to host the Pro Road National Championships. This year was the second year of the competition, and once the dust had settled, Maria Young caught up with Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Tim Brady to find out more.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

River Otters, Online Gambling And Teen Court, This West Virginia Week Jun 07, 2025

On this West Virginia Week, online gambling is becoming easier to access. But that means some individuals may lose more money than they can afford. We hear from a representative from the behavioral health industry about the challenges online gambling can pose, and how to seek help.

Also in this episode, we discuss efforts to bring river otters back to Appalachia, the emergence of a new brood of cicadas and an alternative justice program for teens that centers around peer accountability.

Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

A man in charcoal t-shirt smiles in front of a brown backdrop. — **Encore: The Mine Wars For Young Adults, Faith After A Flood And Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler, Inside Appalachia** Jun 06, 2025
Textbooks have long left out an important piece of labor history that happened here in the mountains. Now, a new young adult book fills in some of what might have been missed about the Mine Wars.

Also, when flooding devastates a community, people can find solace through faith and through song.

And, we remember songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, who passed away last month. Dozens of musicians have covered his songs including Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elvis Presley.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode**:

**Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation**

**A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood**

**A Bicentennial Celebration in Fleming County, Kentucky**

**Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler**

Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation

Author Steve Watkins wants labor history to be remembered.
*Courtesy Photo*

For generations, that history of the Mine Wars in the early part of the 20th century was scarcely mentioned in schools.

The author of a new book hopes to bring the story to today’s young readers.

Host Mason Adams spoke with Steve Watkins, author of “The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers' Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields.”

A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood

Derenia Dunbar (left) stands with parents Ruby (middle) and James Boggs (right) in front of their family home in Millstone, Kentucky. James holds the guitar that was mostly untouched by the floodwaters that filled their house on July 28, 2022.
*Photo Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, people in Appalachia step up to help their neighbors. In the summer of 2022, floods devastated parts of eastern Kentucky.

At the time, Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave brought us a story about the Boggs family, who told her about the joy that comes from the soothing music of an old family guitar.

A Bicentennial Celebration In Fleming County, Kentucky

A church in Fleming County, Kentucky celebrated its 200th anniversary recently.
*Photo Credit: Samantha Morrill/Morehead State Public Radio*

In Fleming County, Kentucky, there’s an old, covered bridge that’s been a popular tourist destination for decades. The Goddard covered bridge was built in the late 1800s, then moved in 1933. It extends over Sand Lick Creek, where the road leads to an old country church. That church celebrated its bicentennial in September.

Samantha Morrill at WMKY, Morehead State Public Radio, visited the church.

Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler

Songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler wrote memorable tunes and was a character.
*Courtesy Photo*

Singer/songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler died in September at the age of 91. The West Virginia native and long-time North Carolina resident was best known for writing songs like “Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Johnny Cash and June Carter. He also wrote “Coward of the County,” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers, and “It’s Midnight,” which Elvis Presley recorded.

*Mountain Stage*’s Larry Groce was a friend and fan of Wheeler’s.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Groce about Wheeler’s legacy.

-----

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by James Boggs, Amethyst Kiah, Caleb Caudle, John Blissard, Paul Loomis, Chris Knight, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Billy Edd Wheeler.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Three people stand side by side. One woman wears a black-grey shirt, one woman wears a yellow shirt, and a man in a blue shirt holds a black acoustic guitar. — **Encore: The Mine Wars For Young Adults, Faith After A Flood And Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler, Inside Appalachia** Jun 06, 2025
Textbooks have long left out an important piece of labor history that happened here in the mountains. Now, a new young adult book fills in some of what might have been missed about the Mine Wars.

Also, when flooding devastates a community, people can find solace through faith and through song.

And, we remember songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, who passed away last month. Dozens of musicians have covered his songs including Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elvis Presley.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode**:

**Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation**

**A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood**

**A Bicentennial Celebration in Fleming County, Kentucky**

**Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler**

Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation

Author Steve Watkins wants labor history to be remembered.
*Courtesy Photo*

For generations, that history of the Mine Wars in the early part of the 20th century was scarcely mentioned in schools.

The author of a new book hopes to bring the story to today’s young readers.

Host Mason Adams spoke with Steve Watkins, author of “The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers' Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields.”

A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood

Derenia Dunbar (left) stands with parents Ruby (middle) and James Boggs (right) in front of their family home in Millstone, Kentucky. James holds the guitar that was mostly untouched by the floodwaters that filled their house on July 28, 2022.
*Photo Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, people in Appalachia step up to help their neighbors. In the summer of 2022, floods devastated parts of eastern Kentucky.

At the time, Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave brought us a story about the Boggs family, who told her about the joy that comes from the soothing music of an old family guitar.

A Bicentennial Celebration In Fleming County, Kentucky

A church in Fleming County, Kentucky celebrated its 200th anniversary recently.
*Photo Credit: Samantha Morrill/Morehead State Public Radio*

In Fleming County, Kentucky, there’s an old, covered bridge that’s been a popular tourist destination for decades. The Goddard covered bridge was built in the late 1800s, then moved in 1933. It extends over Sand Lick Creek, where the road leads to an old country church. That church celebrated its bicentennial in September.

Samantha Morrill at WMKY, Morehead State Public Radio, visited the church.

Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler

Songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler wrote memorable tunes and was a character.
*Courtesy Photo*

Singer/songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler died in September at the age of 91. The West Virginia native and long-time North Carolina resident was best known for writing songs like “Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Johnny Cash and June Carter. He also wrote “Coward of the County,” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers, and “It’s Midnight,” which Elvis Presley recorded.

*Mountain Stage*’s Larry Groce was a friend and fan of Wheeler’s.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Groce about Wheeler’s legacy.

-----

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by James Boggs, Amethyst Kiah, Caleb Caudle, John Blissard, Paul Loomis, Chris Knight, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Billy Edd Wheeler.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Peer Accountability In Teen Court And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Jun 06, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, youth who are alleged to have committed minor offenses can be referred to members of an elite squad known as the teen court. As Chris Schulz reports, organizers say accountability from peers is more effective at keeping teens from re-offending.

And our Mountain Stage Song of the Week is "Lou Reed Was My Babysitter" by Jeff Tweedy, who is no stranger to Mountain Stage. He performed this time with a more familial kind of band, that includes his sons, Spencer on drums and Sammy on backing vocals.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Brood 14 Cicadas Emerge And New Series Explores State’s Clear Night Skies, This West Virginia Morning Jun 05, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, cicadas are emerging from the ground after completing a 17-year nap. Brood 14 can be found in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s Justin Hicks reports, while the crunchy critters are annoying to some, they have profound meaning to others.

And WVPB is bringing you a new radio and television feature called Almost Heavens. In it, Shannon Silverman, an astrophysicist at the Clay Center in Charleston, West Virginia, guides us through the cosmos above the mountains – including how to find the Orion Nebula with nothing more than your naked eye. These short stargazing features are also available to watch on West Virginia Public Broadcasting or to stream on PBS Passport.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Online Gambling Increases Need For Counseling And A Federal Bill Threatens Solar Credits, This West Virginia Morning Jun 04, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, as online gambling increases more people are losing more money than they can afford. In West Virginia, there is the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-GAMBLER. News director Eric Douglas recently spoke with Sheila Moran, director of Marketing and Communication for First Choice Services that runs the helpline. She is also a certified gambling counselor.

And the U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a bill that would wipe out tax credits for solar projects of every scale, from those generating power for utilities to rooftop panels producing electricity for homeowners. Curtis Tate spoke with Sean Gallagher, vice president of policy at the Solar Energy Industries Association, about the economic consequences of the House bill, statewide and nationwide.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Addressing Trauma In Flooded Communities And Otters Return To Regional Waterways, This West Virginia Morning Jun 03, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, schools became rallying points for community volunteer efforts during the February floods that hit West Virginia and Kentucky. As the flood damage is slowly repaired, children in those schools still carry trauma. Reporter Wendy Welch looks at one Mingo County school where an embedded behavioral health clinic offers support to those students.

And otters once inhabited every river system in Pennsylvania. But by the early 1900s, most of them were gone. The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant joins a wildlife biologist who has been working for decades to bring back river otters, and finds an environmental success story.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Protecting Skin From Summer Sun And A Mental Health Crisis Among Farmers, This West Virginia Morning Jun 02, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, summer is just around the corner and that means more time outside, and under the sun. Dr. Alan Thomay, West Virginia University associate professor of surgical oncology, spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about increasing skin cancer rates, and how to stay safe.

Also, the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that reports on environmental issues, is about the mental health struggles farmers face.

And Pride Month is now underway. As Jack Walker reports, hundreds turned out Sunday for a first-of-a-kind celebration in West Virginia’s first town.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Another Cicada Brood And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning May 30, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, it is another cicada summer in Appalachia. The noisy bugs have emerged again, especially in parts of Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

For Inside Appalachia, Bill Lynch spoke with Jakob Goldner, an entomologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, about this season’s brood.

Plus, this week’s premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded live at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston. Our Song of the Week comes from singer-songwriter Darrell Scott, who returned to the stage with a special rendition of Paul Simon’s “American Tune.”

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Appalachian Trail Tourism Rebounds And Mine Land Restoration Efforts, This West Virginia Morning May 29, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the annual Trail Days festival in Damascus, Virginia attracts thousands of outdoor enthusiasts and Appalachian Trail hikers each year.

But the small town was devastated last year during Hurricane Helene, which destroyed local trailways. As Radio IQ's Roxy Todd reports, residents are rebuilding, and businesses are seeing the return of tourists to Damascus.

Also in this episode, Lake Pleasant in northwestern Pennsylvania was created more than 15,000 years ago when a glacier retreated. It is now home to rare plants and birds like osprey.

For the Allegheny Front, an environmental public radio newsroom in Pennsylvania, Kara Holsopple spoke with a team working to reforest an area that was once mined. That is part of a broader effort to restore hundreds of acres of mine lands across the region, including West Virginia.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Community Archeology At Fort Warwick And Outdoor Education In Pocahontas Co., This West Virginia Morning May 27, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, one weekend every spring and fall, landowners, historians and archaeologists join in opening up the Pocahontas County site of the pre-revolutionary war Fort Warwick to the public. Reporter Randy Yohe followed his ancestry-loving wife Vickie to help unearth some West Virginia history.

And when the nonprofit Education Alliance announced the winners of its statewide 2025 School-Business Partnership competition earlier this month, a grassroots program started by a mom in Pocahontas County was the top winner. Maria Young looks at what made the program stand out.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A box of letters on a shelf. The box is in a room stacked with other books and files. — **Appalachian Prison Book Project, Inside Appalachia** May 23, 2025
The Appalachian Prison Book Project has been sending books to incarcerated people for nearly 20 years. Its most popular book is the dictionary.

Also, the Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning.

And, crossing a river by ferry can be a special experience, and hard to come by. On the Ohio River, a retiring ferry captain passes the torch to his deck hand.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**The Appalachian Prison Book Project**

**Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs**

**Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain**

**Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia**

The Appalachian Prison Book Project

Letters and correspondence from incarcerated people, received by the Appalachian Prison Book Project.
*Photo courtesy of the Appalachian Prison Book Project*

Each year, Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association present the Weatherford Awards. They honor books about the Appalachian South. The winner of the 2024 award for nonfiction is titled, *This Book is Free and Yours to Keep*. It consists largely of letters from incarcerated people across the region who corresponded with the Appalachian Prison Book Project.

Ellen Skirvin is one of the book’s editors. Host Mason Adams spoke with her about the project.

Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs

Mike Cunningham is nearly finished hand caning a chair at the Seeing Hand workshop in Wheeling, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In April of this year, Clara Haizlett placed first at the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards for Best Mountain State Heritage with a story about a community of people in Wheeling, West Virginia who repair old caned chairs. You know the type. Your parents or grandparents might’ve had a set. You don’t see caned chairs as much as you used to. Cane breaks down and few people know how to fix the chairs. So, they get thrown away. But they don’t have to be.

We listen to an encore of that story.

Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain

Captain Bo Hause in the pilot house of the Sistersville Ferry.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

The town of Sistersville, West Virginia is home to the last ferry crossing in the Mountain State. The Sistersville Ferry has been serving this tiny community for more than 200 years, and now there’s a new pilot at the helm.

Late last year, before the ferry stopped running for the winter, Zack Harold stopped by to witness the last ride of Captain Bo Hause.

Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia

When black bears become habituated to human food, they often have to be put down.
*Courtesy of the Division of Natural Resources*

People who live in cities can get used to having their trash picked up at the curb. But folks who live in more rural communities have to haul it to dumpster sites. Those sites are destinations not just for folks hauling trash, but also for bears, seeking an easy meal. Now, some places have made moves to keep the bears out of the trash, which also helps keep them alive.

WVPB’s Eric Douglas has more.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, The Sycomores, Tim Bing, John Inghram, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

An older man wearing black glasses and with a trimmed white beard bends in close to the seat of a chair. It is a caned chair he's restoring. — **Appalachian Prison Book Project, Inside Appalachia** May 23, 2025
The Appalachian Prison Book Project has been sending books to incarcerated people for nearly 20 years. Its most popular book is the dictionary.

Also, the Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning.

And, crossing a river by ferry can be a special experience, and hard to come by. On the Ohio River, a retiring ferry captain passes the torch to his deck hand.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**The Appalachian Prison Book Project**

**Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs**

**Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain**

**Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia**

The Appalachian Prison Book Project

Letters and correspondence from incarcerated people, received by the Appalachian Prison Book Project.
*Photo courtesy of the Appalachian Prison Book Project*

Each year, Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association present the Weatherford Awards. They honor books about the Appalachian South. The winner of the 2024 award for nonfiction is titled, *This Book is Free and Yours to Keep*. It consists largely of letters from incarcerated people across the region who corresponded with the Appalachian Prison Book Project.

Ellen Skirvin is one of the book’s editors. Host Mason Adams spoke with her about the project.

Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs

Mike Cunningham is nearly finished hand caning a chair at the Seeing Hand workshop in Wheeling, West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In April of this year, Clara Haizlett placed first at the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards for Best Mountain State Heritage with a story about a community of people in Wheeling, West Virginia who repair old caned chairs. You know the type. Your parents or grandparents might’ve had a set. You don’t see caned chairs as much as you used to. Cane breaks down and few people know how to fix the chairs. So, they get thrown away. But they don’t have to be.

We listen to an encore of that story.

Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain

Captain Bo Hause in the pilot house of the Sistersville Ferry.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

The town of Sistersville, West Virginia is home to the last ferry crossing in the Mountain State. The Sistersville Ferry has been serving this tiny community for more than 200 years, and now there’s a new pilot at the helm.

Late last year, before the ferry stopped running for the winter, Zack Harold stopped by to witness the last ride of Captain Bo Hause.

Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia

When black bears become habituated to human food, they often have to be put down.
*Courtesy of the Division of Natural Resources*

People who live in cities can get used to having their trash picked up at the curb. But folks who live in more rural communities have to haul it to dumpster sites. Those sites are destinations not just for folks hauling trash, but also for bears, seeking an easy meal. Now, some places have made moves to keep the bears out of the trash, which also helps keep them alive.

WVPB’s Eric Douglas has more.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, The Sycomores, Tim Bing, John Inghram, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A Book Of Letters From Prison Wins Award And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning May 23, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the annual Weatherford Awards honor books about the Appalachian South. The winner of the 2024 award for nonfiction is “This Book is Free and Yours to Keep,” a book that’s mostly letters from incarcerated people across the region who corresponded with the Appalachian Prison Book Project. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Ellen Skirvin, one of the book’s editors.

And our Song of the Week comes from this week’s premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, recorded in Charleston, WV at the Culture Center Theater. Singer-songwriter Maya de Vitry, along with Joel Timmons on guitar and Rhees Williams on bass perform “Dream In Blue.”

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Look Back At The Vandalia Gathering And 100 Days Into Trump’s Term, This West Virginia Morning May 22, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we'll hear an audio postcard of last year's Vandalia Gathering, which is set to return to the state capitol grounds this weekend. We'll hear about a possible Republican primary challenge to West Virginia's senior U.S. senator. And we'll hear about what changes the governor is requesting for the federal food assistance program many West Virginians rely on.

And 100 days into the Trump administration, hear Us & Them go around the table for the thoughts dinner guests have about where the country is.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Close up of ramps on a small plate on a dinner table. — **Us & Them: 100 Days And A Lot To Discuss At Our Dinner Party** May 21, 2025
During his first months in office, President Donald Trump has issued about 150 executive orders and is taking action on the very issues he promised during the campaign.

There’ve been dramatic changes in immigration in the form of mass deportations despite concerns over a lack of due process. The administration continues to make good on moves to cut the federal workforce, government agencies and a variety of government-funded organizations. And nearly every day there’s economic news about Trump’s reciprocal tariffs with countries around the world and the impact on the global economy.

With all of this to digest, it’s time for another *Us & Them* Dinner Party as host Trey Kay brings together guests of varying political persuasions to share a potluck meal and their views on President Trump’s first 100 days in office.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

This Us & Them Dinner Party was the first held in the spring, coinciding with the ramp harvest in West Virginia. A signature of Appalachian cuisine, ramps made their way onto the serving table — offering a pungent, local flavor to a gathering centered on strong opinions and sharp differences.
*Photo Credit: Kyle Vass*

After a meal, the *Us & Them* Dinner Party crew shares an intense conversation near the end of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in his second term.
*Photo Credit: Kyle Vass*

**For more than a decade,** ***Us & Them*** has told stories from America’s cultural divides. About five years ago, we decided to bring those divisions to the dinner table — the way many families do. We invited conservatives and liberals to share a potluck meal and a conversation about the issues of the day.

The last time our Dinner Party crew sat down together was just two days after the 2024 election. Although we had a good discussion, emotions were raw. Someone suggested we meet again around the 100-day mark of Donald Trump’s second presidency — so we followed up. Our group included some longtime Dinner Party guests and a new face.

Greg Carroll is a new face at the Dinner Party. He identifies as a “radical” progressive.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Greg Carroll is new to the Dinner Party. Originally from Texas, he moved to West Virginia in the late 1960s after spending time as a child visiting his grandfather in Putnam County. He fell in love with the land and later convinced a group of friends to buy property nearby, believing their corner of the world is “almost heaven.” Carroll is a retired historian who worked with the state archives.

"It’s a nightmare for democracy. Most intellectuals now admit it’s so much worse than they ever thought it could be. The man is almost insufferable—but, as you said, he’s predictable. No one thought someone could dismantle a government built over 200 years, right in front of our eyes, and he has to be stopped.

*He’s for the rich, and he’s making little children suffer all over the planet. We have to decide what kind of country we want to be."*

— ***Greg Carroll****, reflecting on the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second presidency.*

Terri Triplett DeLauder has participated in many *Us & Them* Dinner Party gatherings. She has been friends with host Trey Kay since first grade and describes herself as a “staunch conservative” Republican.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Terri Triplett DeLauder says she’s generally pleased with the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. She believes Trump is willing to make tough decisions that previous presidents have avoided. Terri supports his foreign policy—including his leadership on Ukraine and Gaza—as well as his stance on tariffs. She’s also largely in favor of the government cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, though she disagrees with some of the reductions.

“Even though I’m a staunch conservative, the farm-to-table initiative — which is fantastic — really bothers me when it gets cut. They use local farmers, they sell to local schools, they buy local produce. That creates jobs all the way around. There’s just no reason to cut that.

I do think some of those programs will be saved. My hope isn’t necessarily to reduce defense spending, but to bring back some of the money we’re sending overseas — some of these crazy payments to other countries — and use it for programs here at home.

Put the money back into the programs. And when you look at tariffs — just getting a little bit back from them — you’re talking about bringing revenue back here. Once you do that, then you can afford to fund things again.”

— ***Terri Triplett DeLauder***

Alexus “Lexi” Steele, from Proctorville, Ohio, is a Yeager Scholar at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. As part of the Honors College, she engages in leadership and enrichment programming while maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. She describes herself as “fiscally conservative but far left on social issues.”
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Lexi Steele believes the Republican Party is undergoing a fundamental shift — one that departs from the traditional definition of conservatism in its allegiance to Donald Trump. She finds this troubling. She’s also concerned about the broader social climate, where public discourse often consists of people who shout talking points without truly listening or being open to change.

She’s disheartened by what she sees as a lack of compassion and empathy from Republicans toward undocumented immigrants. As a young Black woman, she’s especially disturbed by the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives [DEI] — both nationally and in her own campus community.

“Something I’m really struggling with is what DEI looks like in the state — especially on campus. I serve on the advisory council for the Society of Black Scholars. I come from a predominantly white community and attend a PWI [predominantly white institution]. The Society of Black Scholars helped me become comfortable with my identity as an African American woman.

Now it’s gone. We can’t exist unless we reorganize as a club. But we’re not a club — we’re a subset of the university, a space where Black students can be recognized as something distinct, not just lumped in with everything else.

So what can I do? I’ve been protesting. I’ve been speaking out, letting people know this is what’s really happening. It’s not just a broad case study — this is how it’s personally affecting me.”

— ***Lexi Steele****, Marshall University student*

Michael Borsuk, flanked by Greg Carroll (left) and Jay Gould (right), is also a student at Marshall University who is double majoring in Business Management and Political Science with a minor in Constitutional Democracy. He identifies as a moderate conservative Republican.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Michael Borsuk believes the early days of Donald Trump’s second presidency have gone well. He supports much of the administration’s policy agenda, especially efforts to cut government spending and increase efficiency. Still, he acknowledges that reductions to the federal workforce — excluding defense — only amount to about 8%. While he favors reining in military spending, he’s critical of how the Biden administration allocated foreign aid.

**That said, Borsuk doesn’t agree with every Trump policy. He’s particularly concerned about how the administration is handling undocumented immigrants, especially when it comes to due process.**

“I’ve said for years the immigration system is broken, and we need to work on the process. And I’ll break from my party on this. It’s scary that they’re not willing to bring someone back to the United States, because everyone is entitled to the right of habeas corpus and the ability to challenge their detention.

We should be stricter on immigration enforcement, but people deserve due process. Keep them here in the States. I don’t agree with the administration sending people back immediately. Yes, we should deport those who are here illegally — but only after they’ve had their rights.”

*— **Michael Borsuk**, Marshall University student*

Elliot Hicks, a Charleston, W.Va., attorney, has been part of the *Us & Them* Dinner Party for several years. He describes himself progressive in his political views.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Elliot Hicks is deeply troubled by the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly its stance on Ukraine. He believes the United States prevailed in the Cold War not through military power, but by leveraging its economic strength in partnership with western allies. For decades, he says, the U.S. acted as a trusted and principled global influence — but he no longer believes that’s the case.

He’s also disturbed by the Trump administration’s claim that guaranteeing due process to undocumented immigrants would overwhelm the legal system, especially in light of the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to an El Salvadoran prison — a case he sees as a clear injustice.

*“Let’s hire more people to provide due process. From the most conservative to the most radical among us, we should be screaming when people are being seized from the streets without due process.*

*Every person in this country is entitled to due process. Do we really disagree on that?*

*Do we really believe we have no influence over fixing a mistake like this? We could correct it if we wanted to.*

*Why aren’t we using the full force of the United States to make it right? Why aren’t we all screaming about this?*

*What’s happening with this government is terrible. We’ve abdicated so many of our principles—all to worship this one person [President Donald Trump]. I’m amazed at where we are.”*

— **Elliot Hicks**, Charleston attorney

Jay Gould, seated next to Marshall University student Michael Borsuk, has attended every *Us & Them* Dinner Party over the past five years. He is mostly retired from a business that repairs mining equipment and describes his political views as conservative.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Jay Gould says he’s been “tickled plumb to death” with the early days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. He supports efforts to cut government spending and backs the administration’s push for U.S. allies to take on more responsibility for their own national defense.

“If I’ve got a neighbor and I’ve got a garden, and I raise my food, take care of my family — and I’ve got a neighbor over here that doesn’t raise a garden, he’s got the same ground, he’s healthy — am I going to take my stuff and give it to him? I’m not going to do it.

*They’ve got national healthcare, they have social programs far beyond what we have. Do away with their programs and fund their military — really? And pick up their load?”*

***— Jay Gould***

Host Trey Kay responds during a tense exchange at the most recent *Us & Them* Dinner Party, where conversations about the Trump presidency can stir strong emotions.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

*“We are living in an era full of questions. More than ever, America does not seem to know what its future holds. After two and a half hours at the dinner table, we've barely scratched the surface.*

By the time we finish our conversation and pick up our plates, it’s close to 10pm. To be honest, on this night, I'm not sure if our experiment is a success. I do know that every final thought offered at the table resonates with me, regardless of its politics.

As our dinner guests depart, I'm not sure when — or if — we'll join together again. The truth is, I never know. These potluck meals and conversations across the divide only happen when brave people are willing to show up and talk. As an American, I’m always hopeful for another opportunity.”

— ***Trey Kay***

Seven individuals, men and women, sit around a dinner table talking. — **Us & Them: 100 Days And A Lot To Discuss At Our Dinner Party** May 21, 2025
During his first months in office, President Donald Trump has issued about 150 executive orders and is taking action on the very issues he promised during the campaign.

There’ve been dramatic changes in immigration in the form of mass deportations despite concerns over a lack of due process. The administration continues to make good on moves to cut the federal workforce, government agencies and a variety of government-funded organizations. And nearly every day there’s economic news about Trump’s reciprocal tariffs with countries around the world and the impact on the global economy.

With all of this to digest, it’s time for another *Us & Them* Dinner Party as host Trey Kay brings together guests of varying political persuasions to share a potluck meal and their views on President Trump’s first 100 days in office.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

This Us & Them Dinner Party was the first held in the spring, coinciding with the ramp harvest in West Virginia. A signature of Appalachian cuisine, ramps made their way onto the serving table — offering a pungent, local flavor to a gathering centered on strong opinions and sharp differences.
*Photo Credit: Kyle Vass*

After a meal, the *Us & Them* Dinner Party crew shares an intense conversation near the end of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in his second term.
*Photo Credit: Kyle Vass*

**For more than a decade,** ***Us & Them*** has told stories from America’s cultural divides. About five years ago, we decided to bring those divisions to the dinner table — the way many families do. We invited conservatives and liberals to share a potluck meal and a conversation about the issues of the day.

The last time our Dinner Party crew sat down together was just two days after the 2024 election. Although we had a good discussion, emotions were raw. Someone suggested we meet again around the 100-day mark of Donald Trump’s second presidency — so we followed up. Our group included some longtime Dinner Party guests and a new face.

Greg Carroll is a new face at the Dinner Party. He identifies as a “radical” progressive.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Greg Carroll is new to the Dinner Party. Originally from Texas, he moved to West Virginia in the late 1960s after spending time as a child visiting his grandfather in Putnam County. He fell in love with the land and later convinced a group of friends to buy property nearby, believing their corner of the world is “almost heaven.” Carroll is a retired historian who worked with the state archives.

"It’s a nightmare for democracy. Most intellectuals now admit it’s so much worse than they ever thought it could be. The man is almost insufferable—but, as you said, he’s predictable. No one thought someone could dismantle a government built over 200 years, right in front of our eyes, and he has to be stopped.

*He’s for the rich, and he’s making little children suffer all over the planet. We have to decide what kind of country we want to be."*

— ***Greg Carroll****, reflecting on the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second presidency.*

Terri Triplett DeLauder has participated in many *Us & Them* Dinner Party gatherings. She has been friends with host Trey Kay since first grade and describes herself as a “staunch conservative” Republican.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Terri Triplett DeLauder says she’s generally pleased with the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. She believes Trump is willing to make tough decisions that previous presidents have avoided. Terri supports his foreign policy—including his leadership on Ukraine and Gaza—as well as his stance on tariffs. She’s also largely in favor of the government cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, though she disagrees with some of the reductions.

“Even though I’m a staunch conservative, the farm-to-table initiative — which is fantastic — really bothers me when it gets cut. They use local farmers, they sell to local schools, they buy local produce. That creates jobs all the way around. There’s just no reason to cut that.

I do think some of those programs will be saved. My hope isn’t necessarily to reduce defense spending, but to bring back some of the money we’re sending overseas — some of these crazy payments to other countries — and use it for programs here at home.

Put the money back into the programs. And when you look at tariffs — just getting a little bit back from them — you’re talking about bringing revenue back here. Once you do that, then you can afford to fund things again.”

— ***Terri Triplett DeLauder***

Alexus “Lexi” Steele, from Proctorville, Ohio, is a Yeager Scholar at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. As part of the Honors College, she engages in leadership and enrichment programming while maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. She describes herself as “fiscally conservative but far left on social issues.”
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Lexi Steele believes the Republican Party is undergoing a fundamental shift — one that departs from the traditional definition of conservatism in its allegiance to Donald Trump. She finds this troubling. She’s also concerned about the broader social climate, where public discourse often consists of people who shout talking points without truly listening or being open to change.

She’s disheartened by what she sees as a lack of compassion and empathy from Republicans toward undocumented immigrants. As a young Black woman, she’s especially disturbed by the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives [DEI] — both nationally and in her own campus community.

“Something I’m really struggling with is what DEI looks like in the state — especially on campus. I serve on the advisory council for the Society of Black Scholars. I come from a predominantly white community and attend a PWI [predominantly white institution]. The Society of Black Scholars helped me become comfortable with my identity as an African American woman.

Now it’s gone. We can’t exist unless we reorganize as a club. But we’re not a club — we’re a subset of the university, a space where Black students can be recognized as something distinct, not just lumped in with everything else.

So what can I do? I’ve been protesting. I’ve been speaking out, letting people know this is what’s really happening. It’s not just a broad case study — this is how it’s personally affecting me.”

— ***Lexi Steele****, Marshall University student*

Michael Borsuk, flanked by Greg Carroll (left) and Jay Gould (right), is also a student at Marshall University who is double majoring in Business Management and Political Science with a minor in Constitutional Democracy. He identifies as a moderate conservative Republican.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Michael Borsuk believes the early days of Donald Trump’s second presidency have gone well. He supports much of the administration’s policy agenda, especially efforts to cut government spending and increase efficiency. Still, he acknowledges that reductions to the federal workforce — excluding defense — only amount to about 8%. While he favors reining in military spending, he’s critical of how the Biden administration allocated foreign aid.

**That said, Borsuk doesn’t agree with every Trump policy. He’s particularly concerned about how the administration is handling undocumented immigrants, especially when it comes to due process.**

“I’ve said for years the immigration system is broken, and we need to work on the process. And I’ll break from my party on this. It’s scary that they’re not willing to bring someone back to the United States, because everyone is entitled to the right of habeas corpus and the ability to challenge their detention.

We should be stricter on immigration enforcement, but people deserve due process. Keep them here in the States. I don’t agree with the administration sending people back immediately. Yes, we should deport those who are here illegally — but only after they’ve had their rights.”

*— **Michael Borsuk**, Marshall University student*

Elliot Hicks, a Charleston, W.Va., attorney, has been part of the *Us & Them* Dinner Party for several years. He describes himself progressive in his political views.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Elliot Hicks is deeply troubled by the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly its stance on Ukraine. He believes the United States prevailed in the Cold War not through military power, but by leveraging its economic strength in partnership with western allies. For decades, he says, the U.S. acted as a trusted and principled global influence — but he no longer believes that’s the case.

He’s also disturbed by the Trump administration’s claim that guaranteeing due process to undocumented immigrants would overwhelm the legal system, especially in light of the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to an El Salvadoran prison — a case he sees as a clear injustice.

*“Let’s hire more people to provide due process. From the most conservative to the most radical among us, we should be screaming when people are being seized from the streets without due process.*

*Every person in this country is entitled to due process. Do we really disagree on that?*

*Do we really believe we have no influence over fixing a mistake like this? We could correct it if we wanted to.*

*Why aren’t we using the full force of the United States to make it right? Why aren’t we all screaming about this?*

*What’s happening with this government is terrible. We’ve abdicated so many of our principles—all to worship this one person [President Donald Trump]. I’m amazed at where we are.”*

— **Elliot Hicks**, Charleston attorney

Jay Gould, seated next to Marshall University student Michael Borsuk, has attended every *Us & Them* Dinner Party over the past five years. He is mostly retired from a business that repairs mining equipment and describes his political views as conservative.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

Jay Gould says he’s been “tickled plumb to death” with the early days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. He supports efforts to cut government spending and backs the administration’s push for U.S. allies to take on more responsibility for their own national defense.

“If I’ve got a neighbor and I’ve got a garden, and I raise my food, take care of my family — and I’ve got a neighbor over here that doesn’t raise a garden, he’s got the same ground, he’s healthy — am I going to take my stuff and give it to him? I’m not going to do it.

*They’ve got national healthcare, they have social programs far beyond what we have. Do away with their programs and fund their military — really? And pick up their load?”*

***— Jay Gould***

Host Trey Kay responds during a tense exchange at the most recent *Us & Them* Dinner Party, where conversations about the Trump presidency can stir strong emotions.
*Photo Credit: Bobby Lee Messer*

*“We are living in an era full of questions. More than ever, America does not seem to know what its future holds. After two and a half hours at the dinner table, we've barely scratched the surface.*

By the time we finish our conversation and pick up our plates, it’s close to 10pm. To be honest, on this night, I'm not sure if our experiment is a success. I do know that every final thought offered at the table resonates with me, regardless of its politics.

As our dinner guests depart, I'm not sure when — or if — we'll join together again. The truth is, I never know. These potluck meals and conversations across the divide only happen when brave people are willing to show up and talk. As an American, I’m always hopeful for another opportunity.”

— ***Trey Kay***

Federal Mine Safety Researchers Remain Uncertain About Their Jobs, This West Virginia Morning May 20, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, many workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health remain uncertain about their employment status. Curtis Tate spoke with Brendan Demich, chief steward for the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1916 about his Pittsburgh-based mine research team, who was issued a termination notice last month.

And The 2025 USA Cycling Professional Road National Championships continues on the roads of Charleston. This is the second year for the Professional Road National Championships in the state capital, and it brought a significant economic impact to the city.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

The High Cost Of Flood Insurance And Cycling Champions In Charleston, This West Virginia Morning May 19, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia shares a similar climate with our neighbors in Kentucky, where flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster. Yet, only about 1% of the state’s property owners have flood insurance. As Lisa Autry reports from the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, experts say major flood events are becoming more common and everyone needs flood insurance regardless of where they live.

And The 2025 USA Cycling Professional Road National Championships will take place beginning today on the roads of downtown Charleston. This is the second year for the Professional Road National Championships in the state capitol.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A book cover with the title "Happy Land" in capital letters. The cover has an illustration of a Black person with a crown of flowers around their head. — **The Kingdom Of The Happy Land, Inside Appalachia** May 16, 2025
The setting for a new novel is a communal society founded by freed people in North Carolina. It was a real place called The Kingdom of the Happy Land.

Also, when a West Virginia pastor got assigned to a new church, some folks tried to warn him.

And, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**The Kingdom Of The Happy Land**

**Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird"**

**The West Virginian Egg Church**

**Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs**

The Kingdom Of Happy Land

The cover of *Happy Land*.
*Courtesy of Dolen Perkins-Valdez*

Following the American Civil War, a group of freed people fled violence and bought land in Western North Carolina. In the summer of 1873, these people formed a Black communal society they named “The Kingdom of the Happy Land.” A new novel tells a story set in the kingdom, both in the past and in the present day. It’s titled, *Happy Land*.

Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird"

R.B. Morris playing guitar and singing at the Big Ears Festival.
*Photo by Bill Foster*

Knoxville, Tennessee’s Big Ears Festival has become a high-profile platform for regional artists to debut new works. This year’s festival featured the premiere of “The Mockingbird” — a collaboration between composer William Wright and Tennessee writer, musician and playwright R.B. Morris. “The Mockingbird” features Morris reading his poetry while accompanied by an experimental chamber orchestra.

Morris was Knoxville’s first ever poet laureate, and his songs have been recorded by John Prine and Marianne Faithfull.

*Inside Appalachia* Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Morris about his collaborations and his ability to capture a sense of place.

The West Virginian Egg Church

Church volunteer Pat George puts flowers on completed eggs.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/Daily Yonder*

Even though Easter has passed, you might still be able to find leftover Easter candy. What you probably won’t find are those big chocolate Easter eggs local churches sell right before the holiday.

One church in West Virginia has become known far and wide for its chocolate eggs. Zack Harold, reporting for the *Rural Remix* podcast, brought us this story.

Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs

A Little Bubby Child meme which features his Meemaw.
*Courtesy of Little Bubby Child*

Appalachian humor is often presented as a throwback. Think: old-timers sitting around telling tall tales. Lots of moonshine jokes. Thing is, there’s plenty of modern mountain humor. It’s on the internet.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, John Inghram, John Blissard and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A white man playing guitar and singing into a microphone. — **The Kingdom Of The Happy Land, Inside Appalachia** May 16, 2025
The setting for a new novel is a communal society founded by freed people in North Carolina. It was a real place called The Kingdom of the Happy Land.

Also, when a West Virginia pastor got assigned to a new church, some folks tried to warn him.

And, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**The Kingdom Of The Happy Land**

**Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird"**

**The West Virginian Egg Church**

**Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs**

The Kingdom Of Happy Land

The cover of *Happy Land*.
*Courtesy of Dolen Perkins-Valdez*

Following the American Civil War, a group of freed people fled violence and bought land in Western North Carolina. In the summer of 1873, these people formed a Black communal society they named “The Kingdom of the Happy Land.” A new novel tells a story set in the kingdom, both in the past and in the present day. It’s titled, *Happy Land*.

Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird"

R.B. Morris playing guitar and singing at the Big Ears Festival.
*Photo by Bill Foster*

Knoxville, Tennessee’s Big Ears Festival has become a high-profile platform for regional artists to debut new works. This year’s festival featured the premiere of “The Mockingbird” — a collaboration between composer William Wright and Tennessee writer, musician and playwright R.B. Morris. “The Mockingbird” features Morris reading his poetry while accompanied by an experimental chamber orchestra.

Morris was Knoxville’s first ever poet laureate, and his songs have been recorded by John Prine and Marianne Faithfull.

*Inside Appalachia* Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Morris about his collaborations and his ability to capture a sense of place.

The West Virginian Egg Church

Church volunteer Pat George puts flowers on completed eggs.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/Daily Yonder*

Even though Easter has passed, you might still be able to find leftover Easter candy. What you probably won’t find are those big chocolate Easter eggs local churches sell right before the holiday.

One church in West Virginia has become known far and wide for its chocolate eggs. Zack Harold, reporting for the *Rural Remix* podcast, brought us this story.

Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs

A Little Bubby Child meme which features his Meemaw.
*Courtesy of Little Bubby Child*

Appalachian humor is often presented as a throwback. Think: old-timers sitting around telling tall tales. Lots of moonshine jokes. Thing is, there’s plenty of modern mountain humor. It’s on the internet.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, John Inghram, John Blissard and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

New Novel Explores Community Of Freed People And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning May 16, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the new novel called “Happy Land” tells a story set in “The Kingdom of the Happy Land,” a society in Western North Carolina formed by freed people after the Civil War. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

And our Song of the Week comes from a premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage recorded on the campus of West Virginia University at the Canady Creative Arts Center in Morgantown. The versatile singer, composer and musician Moira Smiley & The Rhizome Quartet perform “Mourning Dove”, which reflects on the sometimes mournful and isolating ups and downs of love, loss, and growth that partnerships endure.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Reclaiming Black Musical Roots And A Local ‘Booze And Brews’ Trail This West Virginia Morning May 15, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, popular releases like Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" and the movie "Sinners" are drawing the world’s attention to the erasure of music’s Black history. What’s gained less notice is the fact that the grassroots movement to reclaim the Black roots of folk and country music is having its own moment. It just had its own festival, too, and senior Nashville Public Radio's music writer Jewly Hight was there.

And the new "Brews and Booze Trail" from Visit Southern West Virginia takes visitors on a winding trail through nine counties with ten stops at locally owned wineries, breweries and distilleries. Maria Young spoke with Visit Southern West Virginia Director Lisa Strader to find out how to participate.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Opioid Settlement Suit Drags On And Schools Lose Local Food Funding, This West Virginia Morning May 14, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Huntington and Cabell County, often considered ground zero for the opioid epidemic, are still waiting for opioid settlement funds from their lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies. This week, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia declined to determine a point of state law in the cities' suit, sending the matter back to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. Eric Douglas spoke with Anthony Majestro, one of the lead attorneys on the case, to sort it all out.

And the USDA's Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which provided funds for schools to purchase fresh, local food for students, is the latest program cut by the federal government. Justin Hough, director of child nutrition for Preston County Schools spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about how the cuts will affect school meals next year.

Also, a federal judge in Charleston has blocked President Donald Trump's attempts to cut a coal worker health monitoring program focused on black lung disease.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Safe Waste Disposal Around Bears And Former Head Of Mine Safety Talks Cuts, This West Virginia Morning May 12, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s black bear population was estimated to be about 500 animals not too long ago. But conservation efforts brought them back from the brink. As News Director Eric Douglas reports, human interactions with bears are causing a new problem.

And The Trump administration has made deep cuts to MSHA and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which monitors the health of coal miners. Joe Main, the former head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration in the Obama White House, has seen the consequences of understaffing and cuts to that agency. Main spoke with Curtis Tate about the dangers that come with cuts to both programs.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A statue of John Henry is shown against a grassy hill and a train tunnel. — **Encore: True Stories Behind Folk Heroes, Runaway Trains And Murder Ballads** May 09, 2025
This week *Inside Appalachia*, we’re talking about traditional ballads - how they tell stories and connect us to the past.

These old tunes can mean so much. They can tap into difficult emotions and give feelings space to be heard. Some songs may even be too uncomfortable to sing.

In this special episode with guest co-host, ballad singer Saro Lynch-Thomason, we explore songs about lawbreaking folk heroes, runaway trains and murder ballads.

All the stories in this episode were produced as part of our Folkways Reporting Project, a partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s *Inside Appalachia* and the Folklife Program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.

We’ve recorded more than 150 stories for this project, and you can find them all here.

**In This Episode:**

**The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents**

**Ballads About Train Wrecks Hold Lessons For Modern Life**

**Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media**

**Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties**

The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents

A statue of John Henry stands in front of the Big Bend Tunnel near Talcott, West Virginia, where many versions of the ballad of ‘John Henry’ say the competition between Henry and the steam drill took place.
*Photo Credit: Christopher Muller/SteamPhotos.com*

The ballad of “John Henry” tells the story of a railroad worker who competes against a steam drill to see who can drill a hole through a mountain fastest and farthest. With his immense strength and skill, John Henry wins, but dies from his efforts. There is great debate about the historical facts, but most accounts describe Henry as an African American man from West Virginia or Virginia, working for the C&O Railroad. For some who grew up in Black communities in Appalachia, the song elicits a variety of feelings. Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has more.

If learning about John Henry piqued your interest, be sure to check out the recent *Black in Appalachia* podcast episode about John Henry. They dive into some important topics, including a current-day link between health and working conditions, especially for Black workers.

Ballads About Train Wrecks Holds Lessons For Modern Life

“The Wreck At Rural Retreat” from Marshall University’s digital scholar archive.
*Photo Credit: Marshall University*

Starting in the late 19th century, trains were everywhere in southern Appalachia, and so were songs about them. Scott Huffard, an associate professor of History at Lees-McCrae College, says these ballads weren’t just about trains, they were emulating trains using special techniques with common instruments. Reporter Laura Harbert Allen has that story and tells us what we can learn from ballads about trains.

Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media

There are many murder ballads from Appalachia - and most of them are about men killing women. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold is a musician himself. In fact, you can hear him playing guitar and banjo on a song called “Little Sadie” that appears in this week’s episode.

“Little Sadie” is a ballad about a man killing his sweetheart - exactly the kind of song Zack sought to understand in his reporting about murder ballads. What can they tell us about history? And what is “true crime” the modern-day equivalent?

Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties

As Zack explored in his story, people in the past and the present love viral “true crime” stories. In the early 1930s, the way for a story to go “viral” was by being sung about in a ballad. That’s what happened to Otto Wood, a real-life outlaw who grew up around Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He spent time with the Hatfields of southern West Virginia, became a famous moonshiner, and died in a shootout with police in 1930. Less than one year later, his story was told in the ballad “Otto Wood The Bandit,” recorded by Walker Kid and the Carolina Buddies.

Our host Mason Adams reported on that song.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Wes Swing, Dinosaur Burps, and The Chamber Brothers. Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A black and white panoramic photo of a train wreck. Several people are seen standing on the side of the tracks looking up at the wreck. — **Encore: True Stories Behind Folk Heroes, Runaway Trains And Murder Ballads** May 09, 2025
This week *Inside Appalachia*, we’re talking about traditional ballads - how they tell stories and connect us to the past.

These old tunes can mean so much. They can tap into difficult emotions and give feelings space to be heard. Some songs may even be too uncomfortable to sing.

In this special episode with guest co-host, ballad singer Saro Lynch-Thomason, we explore songs about lawbreaking folk heroes, runaway trains and murder ballads.

All the stories in this episode were produced as part of our Folkways Reporting Project, a partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s *Inside Appalachia* and the Folklife Program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.

We’ve recorded more than 150 stories for this project, and you can find them all here.

**In This Episode:**

**The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents**

**Ballads About Train Wrecks Hold Lessons For Modern Life**

**Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media**

**Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties**

The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents

A statue of John Henry stands in front of the Big Bend Tunnel near Talcott, West Virginia, where many versions of the ballad of ‘John Henry’ say the competition between Henry and the steam drill took place.
*Photo Credit: Christopher Muller/SteamPhotos.com*

The ballad of “John Henry” tells the story of a railroad worker who competes against a steam drill to see who can drill a hole through a mountain fastest and farthest. With his immense strength and skill, John Henry wins, but dies from his efforts. There is great debate about the historical facts, but most accounts describe Henry as an African American man from West Virginia or Virginia, working for the C&O Railroad. For some who grew up in Black communities in Appalachia, the song elicits a variety of feelings. Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has more.

If learning about John Henry piqued your interest, be sure to check out the recent *Black in Appalachia* podcast episode about John Henry. They dive into some important topics, including a current-day link between health and working conditions, especially for Black workers.

Ballads About Train Wrecks Holds Lessons For Modern Life

“The Wreck At Rural Retreat” from Marshall University’s digital scholar archive.
*Photo Credit: Marshall University*

Starting in the late 19th century, trains were everywhere in southern Appalachia, and so were songs about them. Scott Huffard, an associate professor of History at Lees-McCrae College, says these ballads weren’t just about trains, they were emulating trains using special techniques with common instruments. Reporter Laura Harbert Allen has that story and tells us what we can learn from ballads about trains.

Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media

There are many murder ballads from Appalachia - and most of them are about men killing women. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold is a musician himself. In fact, you can hear him playing guitar and banjo on a song called “Little Sadie” that appears in this week’s episode.

“Little Sadie” is a ballad about a man killing his sweetheart - exactly the kind of song Zack sought to understand in his reporting about murder ballads. What can they tell us about history? And what is “true crime” the modern-day equivalent?

Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties

As Zack explored in his story, people in the past and the present love viral “true crime” stories. In the early 1930s, the way for a story to go “viral” was by being sung about in a ballad. That’s what happened to Otto Wood, a real-life outlaw who grew up around Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He spent time with the Hatfields of southern West Virginia, became a famous moonshiner, and died in a shootout with police in 1930. Less than one year later, his story was told in the ballad “Otto Wood The Bandit,” recorded by Walker Kid and the Carolina Buddies.

Our host Mason Adams reported on that song.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Wes Swing, Dinosaur Burps, and The Chamber Brothers. Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

W.Va. Surgeon Honored For Concussion Work And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning May 09, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, every professional sports program has a concussion protocol that dictates when a player can return to the roster. One of the two doctors who developed the program is from the Wheeling area. This weekend, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Joe Maroon is receiving an Ellis Island Medal of Honor and he spoke with News Director Eric Douglas.

And Our Song of the Week is a stirring performance of fan-favorite “Furr,” by Pacific Northwestern folk-rock outfit Blitzen Trapper making their third appearance on Mountain Stage in November 2024. This week's broadcast of Mountain Stage features a collection of five memorable sets from five different episodes recorded in 2024.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Celebrating 10 Years Of Us & Them And Learning About Invasive Species, This West Virginia Morning May 08, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, from the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay celebrates a milestone - the podcast’s tenth anniversary - with the members of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society. The event highlights moments from past shows and offers a conversation about storytelling and artistic expression.

And The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region, reports on a natural history exhibit featuring invasive plants to the region.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A small placard for the "Dead Podcasters Society." — **Us & Them: Carpe Sonum — Celebrating 10 Years Of Us & Them With The Dead Podcasters Society** May 07, 2025
For this episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay celebrates the podcast’s tenth anniversary with the members of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society, a club that is dedicated to artistic expression and following one’s passions, much like the fictional group in the 1989 film *Dead Poets Society*.

The event becomes a master class on podcasts, the intimate form of audio storytelling that has hooked hundreds of millions of listeners around the world. Kay talks with students about how he encourages people to tell him their stories and about a lifetime spent forming connections with people who hold views that are very different from his own.

He also gets inducted into the Dead Podcasters Society with a ceremony that involves a sword and a vow to “seize the sound.”

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

A small placard for the "Dead Podcasters Society" — a play on the logo from the 1989 coming-of-age film "Dead Poets Society" — was on display at a Marshall University meeting of the Dead Podcasters Society, a student podcasting club.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Members of Marshall University’s “Dead Podcasters Society” gather late on a misty Friday evening in the courtyard outside the entrance to James E. Morrow Library.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

It is near 11 p.m. on a recent evening in Huntington, West Virginia. The grass is wet from showers earlier in the day. I’m standing in a courtyard of the James E. Morrow Library at Marshall University with people who are dressed in graduation robes and scholarly garb. Some have electric candles. One person is holding a sword.

These are the members and guests of Marshall’s Dead Podcasters Society, a student club modeled after the club at the center of the 1989 coming-of-age film *Dead Poets Society,* starring the late Robin Williams.

**They invited me to celebrate the 10th anniversary of *Us & Them,* talk about my experience as a podcast pioneer, and reflect on a decade of telling stories about America’s cultural divides.**

Professor Robert Quick, director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va., strikes the bell outside Morrow Library to open the Dead Podcasters Society proceedings.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Journalism Professor Rob Quicke has long been inspired by *Dead Poets Society* and he keeps copies of the movie around. Quicke, the director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University, launched the Dead Podcasters Society. He, like Robin Williams’ Mr. Keating, encourages students to find their voice and express themselves through creating and appreciating the medium of podcasting.

“Because podcasting is so huge now, so popular, I thought there should be a club on campus for students who want to be involved in putting together and appreciating podcasts. Someone said, ‘We’re the weirdos, we’re freaks, we’re outsiders. We’re students who don’t quite fit in everywhere else — or anywhere else.’ You know, I would never say that myself, but the fact that they said that, and that they believe it, and that they found a safe space to express themselves and be who they really are — that wasn’t something I planned on, but it’s probably been our biggest success.”

— **Rob Quicke**

*Watch this scene from the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society.”*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWUpk_TyWDg

Librarian Lori Thompson (center, holding a candle) leads the Dead Podcasters Society on a candlelit tour through the stacks of Marshall University’s Morrow Library to the gathering place for Trey’s presentation to the group.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society gathers in the Gen. Chuck Yeager Room of Morrow Library to hear Trey speak about a decade of producing *Us & Them*.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

Trey presents some of his favorite excerpts from a decade of producing the *Us & Them* podcast during a presentation to the group.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

*Us & Them* got its start in May 2015. The pressures of running this operation are huge. I’ve put thousands of miles on my car reporting stories. I’m always raising money. And every day, I’m up against a deadline.

But the rewards are even bigger. I’ve met incredible people and have forged bonds with folks whose views and opinions are far from my own. I deeply enjoy listeners’ feedback, positive *and* negative. And doing this work has helped me find my voice.

“In the beginning of my Us and Them podcast, I decided that I thought that what I wanted to do, at least in the initial part of the podcast, was to show how maybe you could have a connection with people who were very different than you. That in many ways, we don't really talk to people who are not like us."

*— **Trey Kay**, creator and host of* Us & Them

**Links to the Us & Them episodes that Trey Kay shared with Marshall’s “Dead Podcasters Society”:**

In Dixieland I’ll Take My Stand

Trapped On The Turnpike

Deanna, Tymel & Amarie

Hillers & Creekers

Marshall University students and members of the Dead Podcasters Society listen to an audio presentation by Trey.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

I played several excerpts from shows highlighting what I’ve learned from each one. I also discussed how I use a variety of audio sources, like voicemails, to illustrate my plight in one episode when I was trapped on a snowy interstate for more than 24 hours. I took questions from students.

“It was definitely, definitely interesting to me. I’ve never seen such open conversations like that. Usually, they’re much more heated, or the stuff I engage with is fairly one-sided and doesn’t really speak honestly.”

“A lot of the clips you played were about deeply personal things for the people you interviewed — even the one about being trapped on the turnpike. They were tumultuous situations that could inspire fear or intense emotion. Does it take a toll on you personally, having to hear these things?”

“I do a podcast about tea with a friend from choir, and we try to create a very comfy atmosphere. How often do you find yourself needing to create that kind of comfort to get people talking? And how often does that atmosphere work against the kind of conversation you need to have?”

— **Questions and comments from members of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society**

Trey Kay, kneeling on the right, is waiting for journalism Professor Robert Quicke to induct him into Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

After my presentation, journalism Professor Rob Quicke inducted four new members into the Dead Podcasters Society - including me. I have arthritis in both knees, so several students helped me kneel on the ground. Quicke used that sword I saw someone carrying before the ceremony and tapped me on each shoulder, as if I was being knighted, as I recited the society’s induction vow:

I, Trey Kay, accept the mic and the power it holds. I vow to tell stories that matter, to speak with purpose, to listen with intent, and to never fear the pause. In the silence between words, I find meaning. In sound, I find soul. I'm a podcaster of the living and the dead. Carpe sonum.

**And then I was given a medal!**

**Carpe sonum! (Seize the sound!)**

Trey Kay, exuberant after 10 years of producing *Us & Them*, reacts to his induction into Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

“In a world of endless noise, you have chosen the mic. You believe in stories, in silence and in signal. You're not afraid of dead air, only dead ideas. For those about to be inducted, you now join the ranks of those who listen deeply, speak truly and edit wisely. Carpe Sonum.”

— **Rob Quicke**

Trey Kay with Nolan Duncan, President of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society.
*Photo Credit: Robert Quicke*

Trey Kay with Dr. Robert Quicke, professor of journalism and director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

Dead Podcaster Society member Trey Kay.
*Photo Credit: Robert Quicke*

Three men are shown. Two are hooded, and one wears a lanyard with a medal. The other hooded figure is holding a microphone and interviewing an older man with white hair and a white beard. — **Us & Them: Carpe Sonum — Celebrating 10 Years Of Us & Them With The Dead Podcasters Society** May 07, 2025
For this episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay celebrates the podcast’s tenth anniversary with the members of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society, a club that is dedicated to artistic expression and following one’s passions, much like the fictional group in the 1989 film *Dead Poets Society*.

The event becomes a master class on podcasts, the intimate form of audio storytelling that has hooked hundreds of millions of listeners around the world. Kay talks with students about how he encourages people to tell him their stories and about a lifetime spent forming connections with people who hold views that are very different from his own.

He also gets inducted into the Dead Podcasters Society with a ceremony that involves a sword and a vow to “seize the sound.”

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

A small placard for the "Dead Podcasters Society" — a play on the logo from the 1989 coming-of-age film "Dead Poets Society" — was on display at a Marshall University meeting of the Dead Podcasters Society, a student podcasting club.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Members of Marshall University’s “Dead Podcasters Society” gather late on a misty Friday evening in the courtyard outside the entrance to James E. Morrow Library.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

It is near 11 p.m. on a recent evening in Huntington, West Virginia. The grass is wet from showers earlier in the day. I’m standing in a courtyard of the James E. Morrow Library at Marshall University with people who are dressed in graduation robes and scholarly garb. Some have electric candles. One person is holding a sword.

These are the members and guests of Marshall’s Dead Podcasters Society, a student club modeled after the club at the center of the 1989 coming-of-age film *Dead Poets Society,* starring the late Robin Williams.

**They invited me to celebrate the 10th anniversary of *Us & Them,* talk about my experience as a podcast pioneer, and reflect on a decade of telling stories about America’s cultural divides.**

Professor Robert Quick, director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va., strikes the bell outside Morrow Library to open the Dead Podcasters Society proceedings.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Journalism Professor Rob Quicke has long been inspired by *Dead Poets Society* and he keeps copies of the movie around. Quicke, the director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University, launched the Dead Podcasters Society. He, like Robin Williams’ Mr. Keating, encourages students to find their voice and express themselves through creating and appreciating the medium of podcasting.

“Because podcasting is so huge now, so popular, I thought there should be a club on campus for students who want to be involved in putting together and appreciating podcasts. Someone said, ‘We’re the weirdos, we’re freaks, we’re outsiders. We’re students who don’t quite fit in everywhere else — or anywhere else.’ You know, I would never say that myself, but the fact that they said that, and that they believe it, and that they found a safe space to express themselves and be who they really are — that wasn’t something I planned on, but it’s probably been our biggest success.”

— **Rob Quicke**

*Watch this scene from the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society.”*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWUpk_TyWDg

Librarian Lori Thompson (center, holding a candle) leads the Dead Podcasters Society on a candlelit tour through the stacks of Marshall University’s Morrow Library to the gathering place for Trey’s presentation to the group.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society gathers in the Gen. Chuck Yeager Room of Morrow Library to hear Trey speak about a decade of producing *Us & Them*.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

Trey presents some of his favorite excerpts from a decade of producing the *Us & Them* podcast during a presentation to the group.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

*Us & Them* got its start in May 2015. The pressures of running this operation are huge. I’ve put thousands of miles on my car reporting stories. I’m always raising money. And every day, I’m up against a deadline.

But the rewards are even bigger. I’ve met incredible people and have forged bonds with folks whose views and opinions are far from my own. I deeply enjoy listeners’ feedback, positive *and* negative. And doing this work has helped me find my voice.

“In the beginning of my Us and Them podcast, I decided that I thought that what I wanted to do, at least in the initial part of the podcast, was to show how maybe you could have a connection with people who were very different than you. That in many ways, we don't really talk to people who are not like us."

*— **Trey Kay**, creator and host of* Us & Them

**Links to the Us & Them episodes that Trey Kay shared with Marshall’s “Dead Podcasters Society”:**

In Dixieland I’ll Take My Stand

Trapped On The Turnpike

Deanna, Tymel & Amarie

Hillers & Creekers

Marshall University students and members of the Dead Podcasters Society listen to an audio presentation by Trey.
*Photo Credit: Julie Blackwood*

I played several excerpts from shows highlighting what I’ve learned from each one. I also discussed how I use a variety of audio sources, like voicemails, to illustrate my plight in one episode when I was trapped on a snowy interstate for more than 24 hours. I took questions from students.

“It was definitely, definitely interesting to me. I’ve never seen such open conversations like that. Usually, they’re much more heated, or the stuff I engage with is fairly one-sided and doesn’t really speak honestly.”

“A lot of the clips you played were about deeply personal things for the people you interviewed — even the one about being trapped on the turnpike. They were tumultuous situations that could inspire fear or intense emotion. Does it take a toll on you personally, having to hear these things?”

“I do a podcast about tea with a friend from choir, and we try to create a very comfy atmosphere. How often do you find yourself needing to create that kind of comfort to get people talking? And how often does that atmosphere work against the kind of conversation you need to have?”

— **Questions and comments from members of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society**

Trey Kay, kneeling on the right, is waiting for journalism Professor Robert Quicke to induct him into Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

After my presentation, journalism Professor Rob Quicke inducted four new members into the Dead Podcasters Society - including me. I have arthritis in both knees, so several students helped me kneel on the ground. Quicke used that sword I saw someone carrying before the ceremony and tapped me on each shoulder, as if I was being knighted, as I recited the society’s induction vow:

I, Trey Kay, accept the mic and the power it holds. I vow to tell stories that matter, to speak with purpose, to listen with intent, and to never fear the pause. In the silence between words, I find meaning. In sound, I find soul. I'm a podcaster of the living and the dead. Carpe sonum.

**And then I was given a medal!**

**Carpe sonum! (Seize the sound!)**

Trey Kay, exuberant after 10 years of producing *Us & Them*, reacts to his induction into Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

“In a world of endless noise, you have chosen the mic. You believe in stories, in silence and in signal. You're not afraid of dead air, only dead ideas. For those about to be inducted, you now join the ranks of those who listen deeply, speak truly and edit wisely. Carpe Sonum.”

— **Rob Quicke**

Trey Kay with Nolan Duncan, President of Marshall University’s Dead Podcasters Society.
*Photo Credit: Robert Quicke*

Trey Kay with Dr. Robert Quicke, professor of journalism and director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University.
*Photo Credit: Lori Thompson*

Dead Podcaster Society member Trey Kay.
*Photo Credit: Robert Quicke*

Mothman Potato Chips And Cutting Cement’s Carbon Emissions, This West Virginia Morning May 07, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachia’s most famous cryptid is back and on a bag of chips. For Inside Appalachia, Bill Lynch went out in search of the new Mothman potato chips from Mister Bee in Parkersburg.

And The Allegheny Front, based in Pittsburgh, is a public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region. We hear their story by Kara Holsopple about efforts to cut carbon emissions that are generated by making cement.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Award-Winning Podcast, Us & Them, Celebrates 10 Years May 05, 2025

[CHARLESTON, WV] – Us & Them, an award-winning podcast that shines a light on the issues that deeply divide Americans, celebrates 10 years of tackling some of the nation’s most challenging social issues with a retrospective.

The latest episode of Us & Them marks the show’s 10-year anniversary with Kay making a midnight presentation at Marshall University to a student group known as the “Dead Podcasters Society.” The organization is devoted to the craft of creating and listening to podcasts. For the anniversary, they invited Kay to share a retrospective sampling of Us & Them’s work over the past decade.

Professor Rob Quicke, director of Marshall’s W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications and faculty sponsor of the club, said his goal is to foster a space where students can create audio content that is “genuinely meaningful to them.”

Doing this work has helped me find my voice”, said Us & Them host, Trey Kay. “Audio storytelling through Us & Them has given my life meaning and purpose. I was glad to share what I’ve learned with the next generation of creative podcasters at Marshall, and I’m grateful to the talented team at West Virginia Public Broadcasting, our funders, and supporters who help make the program a reality.”

“West Virginia Public Broadcasting has a mission to tell the stories and have discussions that shape who we are”, added WVPB Executive Director, Eddie Isom. “Us and Them encourages conversations that let us learn a little more about ourselves and our neighbors.”

Us & Them’s 10-Year Anniversary podcast episode drops on Wednesday, May 7 and can be accessed at wvpublic.org. See all 10 years of Us & Them podcasts at: https://wvpublic.org/podcasts/us-them/

About Us & Them:

Us & Them is a podcast exploring all sides of the cultural issues that too often divide us. Peabody Award-winner Trey Kay brings us stories that may make you rethink your opinions on religion, sexuality, and other important issues. Us & Them is a joint project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting and Trey Kay Productions, with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council.

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting:

The mission of West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) is to educate, inform, and inspire people by telling West Virginia’s story. WVPB is an indispensable resource for education, news and public affairs, emergency services and economic development. Learn more at http://www.wvpublic.org or find us on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Amanda Rogers
Marketing Manager
304-556-4911
arogers@wvpublic.org

An aerial photo of a prison that is divided into five sections. — **Red Onion Prison, NIOSH And The Mountain Laurel Festival, Inside Appalachia** May 02, 2025
Officials are scrutinizing a supermax prison in Wise County, Virginia, after inmate complaints and a visit by a state lawmaker.

Also, laid-off federal workers warn the Trump administration’s mass firings could make a big difference for coal miners.

And, every year, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival stages a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison**

**Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts**

**Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March**

**Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art**

**United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career**

A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison

Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, Virginia.
*Courtesy of Virginia Department of Corrections*

In parts of Appalachia, coal mines have given way to a newer industry. Southwestern Virginia has two high-security, supermax prisons: Wallens Ridge State Prison, near Big Stone Gap, and Red Onion, not far from the town of Pound.

Prisoners at Red Onion say they live in poor conditions and are often placed in solitary confinement for long stretches of time. Reporter Charlotte Rene Woods has been covering the story.

Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts

Scientists say they want to get back to work and fear their firing will endanger workers across the country.
*Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*
The Trump administration has fired tens of thousands of workers since January. Including at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Nearly all the workers at the NIOSH offices in Morgantown, West Virginia, lost their jobs in April.
Kyle Mandler is one of the affected workers. He spoke with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Chris Schulz about the cuts.

Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March

The Grand March is part of Kentucky's oldest festival, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival.
*Photo Credit: Will Warren/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachia is home to a lot of festivals. In Eastern Kentucky, the town of Pineville has the oldest festival on record in the state. It’s called the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, and it happens Memorial Day weekend.

It’s a four-day celebration that culminates with an exquisite tradition: The Grand March. A traditional dance that has been passed down since the first festival in 1931. Folkways Reporter Will Warren was born and raised in Pineville and grew up taking part in the festival. In 2023, he reported on the Grand March.

Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art

Antonia Capriotti, an artist based in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, developed her skills through coursework at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Berkeley County.
*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

West Virginia artist Antonia Capriotti creates paintings and illustrations that are full of life.

Her journey as an artist began in Jefferson County’s public schools, where special education classes helped her discover a lifelong passion. WVPB’s Jack Walker has more.

United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career

UMWA President Cecil Roberts, dressed in a camouflage shirt and surrounded by union members, waves a victory sign.
*Courtesy of UMWA*

In October, Cecil Roberts will step down as president of the United Mine Workers of America. Roberts says that in his 30 years at the head of the union, no achievement was more important than saving the health care and pensions of tens of thousands of retired coal miners. Roberts recently spoke with WVPB’s Curtis Tate about the fight for those benefits.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Dinosaur Burps, Ron Mellenex and Gerry Milnes, Frank George, John Inghram, Mary Hott and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A white sign with blue text reads "Save Niosh" held up by a man with a white goatee over a small crowd — **Red Onion Prison, NIOSH And The Mountain Laurel Festival, Inside Appalachia** May 02, 2025
Officials are scrutinizing a supermax prison in Wise County, Virginia, after inmate complaints and a visit by a state lawmaker.

Also, laid-off federal workers warn the Trump administration’s mass firings could make a big difference for coal miners.

And, every year, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival stages a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison**

**Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts**

**Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March**

**Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art**

**United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career**

A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison

Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, Virginia.
*Courtesy of Virginia Department of Corrections*

In parts of Appalachia, coal mines have given way to a newer industry. Southwestern Virginia has two high-security, supermax prisons: Wallens Ridge State Prison, near Big Stone Gap, and Red Onion, not far from the town of Pound.

Prisoners at Red Onion say they live in poor conditions and are often placed in solitary confinement for long stretches of time. Reporter Charlotte Rene Woods has been covering the story.

Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts

Scientists say they want to get back to work and fear their firing will endanger workers across the country.
*Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*
The Trump administration has fired tens of thousands of workers since January. Including at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Nearly all the workers at the NIOSH offices in Morgantown, West Virginia, lost their jobs in April.
Kyle Mandler is one of the affected workers. He spoke with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Chris Schulz about the cuts.

Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March

The Grand March is part of Kentucky's oldest festival, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival.
*Photo Credit: Will Warren/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachia is home to a lot of festivals. In Eastern Kentucky, the town of Pineville has the oldest festival on record in the state. It’s called the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, and it happens Memorial Day weekend.

It’s a four-day celebration that culminates with an exquisite tradition: The Grand March. A traditional dance that has been passed down since the first festival in 1931. Folkways Reporter Will Warren was born and raised in Pineville and grew up taking part in the festival. In 2023, he reported on the Grand March.

Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art

Antonia Capriotti, an artist based in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, developed her skills through coursework at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Berkeley County.
*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

West Virginia artist Antonia Capriotti creates paintings and illustrations that are full of life.

Her journey as an artist began in Jefferson County’s public schools, where special education classes helped her discover a lifelong passion. WVPB’s Jack Walker has more.

United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career

UMWA President Cecil Roberts, dressed in a camouflage shirt and surrounded by union members, waves a victory sign.
*Courtesy of UMWA*

In October, Cecil Roberts will step down as president of the United Mine Workers of America. Roberts says that in his 30 years at the head of the union, no achievement was more important than saving the health care and pensions of tens of thousands of retired coal miners. Roberts recently spoke with WVPB’s Curtis Tate about the fight for those benefits.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Dinosaur Burps, Ron Mellenex and Gerry Milnes, Frank George, John Inghram, Mary Hott and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Poor Conditions At A Virginia Supermax Prison And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning May 02, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Red Onion is one of two high-security, supermax prisons in southwestern Virginia. Prisoners say they live in poor conditions and are often placed in solitary confinement for long stretches of time. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with reporter Charlotte Rene Woods, who has been covering the story.

And from Mountain Stage, indie supergroup Fantastic Cat recorded this week's Song of the Week “All My Fault” almost a year ago at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Revisiting Morgantown’s Camping Ban, Mine Safety Advocates Face Obstacles, This West Virginia Morning May 01, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we take a deeper look at the Tuesday vote to uphold a camping ban on public property in Morgantown, which purports to address homelessness. As Chris Schulz reports, the final vote was viewed as a win for some, but a major loss for others.

Also in this episode, a federal court has blocked the rollout of new coal mine safety requirements. Now, Justin Hicks with Kentucky Public Radio reports that the agency tasked with overseeing mine safety rules is keeping mine worker advocates out of the fight.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Morgantown Camping Ban Upheld, Plus A Closer Look At 2024 Abortion Data, This West Virginia Morning Apr 30, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Morgantown city residents voted Tuesday to narrowly uphold a camping ban on public property, which purports to curb homelessness. When Morgantown City Council passed the ban last September, it drew swift condemnation from housing advocates who said the ban would criminalize homelessness with fines or jail time and make it even harder for struggling people to find long-term housing.

In November, Morgantown residents successfully petitioned to repeal the ban, an action the city council declined to take. That led to the issue being placed before voters on the city ballot Tuesday. Results are unofficial until canvassing on May 5.

Also in this episode, the Guttmacher Institute is a research group that studies reproductive health. They recently released a new report on abortion trends in the United States in 2024, and found the number of abortions performed increased slightly, but the number of people traveling outside the state for the procedures decreased slightly.

Lead data scientist Isaac Maddow-Zimet spoke with reporter Jack Walker about these figures, and what they suggest for states with near-total abortion bans like West Virginia.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

New Penalties Against Homelessness, Plus A River’s Life In Photos, This West Virginia Morning Apr 29, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Morgantown voters will vote today on a proposed camping ban the Morgantown City Council passed in September, purportedly to curb homelessness. But housing advocates worry it would only exacerbate the difficulties those experiencing homelessness face.

Morgantown is not alone; camping bans have been popping up across West Virginia and the United States. In nearby Tennessee, the state legislature has already made camping on public property a felony. WPLN's Cynthia Adams walks us through the newest laws impacting those experiencing homelessness in Tennessee, and the fallout so far.

Also in this episode, the Youghiogheny River stretches through southwestern Pennsylvania from the Monongahela River. It has been a decades-long focus for writer and photographer Tim Palmer. Kara Holsopple with The Allegheny Front, an environmental public radio program based in Pittsburgh, brings us a story on what Palmer's efforts to document the river have entailed.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Both Medicaid And Mine Safety Face Cuts, This West Virginia Morning Apr 28, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, new federal work requirements for Medicaid could impact up to 44,000 of the state's residents.

But a new analysis suggests that reporting one's employment under the proposed policy could be prohibitively complicated, limiting access to health care even for some of those with long-term work. Health reporter Emily Rice discussed the policy specifics with health care policy expert Katherine Hempstead.

Plus, 33 field offices of the Mine Safety and Health Administration face closure through the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center compiled and analyzed data from the federal Mine Data Retrieval System on the number of inspections conducted and cumulative hours worked by inspectors at these offices. Tom Martin, an editor with WEKU, spoke with Wes Addington, executive director of the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, in Whitesburg, Ky.

Also in this episode, the most diverse collection of wildflowers at any national park in the United States has bloomed in the Great Smoky Mountains. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, Jacqui Sieber paid the park a visit to learn more about what makes the season so unique.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Poison Ivy Remedies And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Apr 25, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we debunk treatments for the common itchy rash that comes from poison ivy. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways reporter Wendy Welch spoke with two health professionals about where folk cures and mainstream medicine for the affliction overlap.

We also bring you part of a premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, recorded on the campus of George Mason University at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Va. From that performance, slide guitar star Cristina Vane's “Make Myself Me Again” is our newest Song of the Week.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Regenerative Farming Techniques And The DEI Debate, This West Virginia Morning Apr 24, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, one small-scale farmer in Warren County, Kentucky wants to bring ideas of land stewardship and community back into farming. Derek Parham with member station WKYU reports on Willie Houston's passion for producing healthy food and nurturing healthy land.

Meanwhile, equal opportunity laws have battled discrimination in the United States for decades. But efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs have arisen in dozens of states, including West Virginia. For the newest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay spoke with folks about the issue, including Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Black man in a suit and tie attending an event. Three other people are seen in the background. — **Us & Them: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion — Its History And The Efforts To Erase It** Apr 23, 2025
For decades, polls have shown most Americans believe equal opportunity in the workplace is beneficial and laws like the 1964 Civil Rights Act worked to achieve that goal. More recently, the effort has included voluntary diversity, equity and inclusion programs - known as DEI.

On this episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay looks at changing social and political sentiment that’s prompted efforts to dismantle the nation’s DEI programs. President Trump’s executive orders require government agencies to stop the programs calling them illegal and immoral discrimination. State lawmakers are taking a cue from Washington and so far more than 30 states have considered or are looking at anti-DEI legislation, with half having already passed such laws.

While some people say diversity programs provide positive societal change and are positive for a business’s bottom line, a growing percentage say the efforts are discriminatory practices that can lower employment standards and do not improve productivity or efficiency in the workplace.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

The debate over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — referred to as DEI — is one of the fiercest fronts in America’s culture wars. These initiatives, rooted in the spirit of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, are meant to ensure fair access and opportunity. Increasing opposition to such programs and initiatives includes executive orders from President Donald Trump as well as dozens of state proposals.

Elliott Hicks is a Charleston lawyer and member of Us & Them's DEI advisory board. He's pictured here at an event at the West Virginia University Law School.
*Photo Credit: West Virginia Executive Magazine*

To explore some of the complexities of DEI, we begin with a look inward at the Us & Them project. Our production team is small and mostly white, made up of a handful of producers—most of whom are women — who write and mix each episode. In the past decade, only one person of color has produced content for the show.

A few years ago, at the suggestion of one of our funders, we created a DEI advisory board including people of color from West Virginia to gain input and feedback from a more diverse range of perspectives. We established a six-member board, all of whom are community leaders with experience serving on corporate, nonprofit and civic boards.

Elliot Hicks, an Us & Them advisory board member, is a longtime attorney based in Charleston, West Virginia, who serves on several boards, including Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Hicks says he joined the Us & Them DEI board because he believes the show is genuinely working to include diverse perspectives on complex issues.

“When you have people of color on boards or in organizations where they haven’t traditionally shown up in large numbers, it helps the thinking process and makes the ideas that come out of those groups more palatable to more people. That’s why it’s to the advantage of the organization to do this and to continue those efforts — and to the advantage of our state. We shouldn’t push that aside just because we don’t have a lot of minorities here.”

— **Elliot Hicks***, lawyer based in Charleston, W.Va.*

Felicia Bush is the owner of a mental health agency and member of Us & Them’s DEI advisory board.
*Photo Courtesy of Felicia Bush*

Felicia Bush is another member of the *Us & Them* DEI advisory board, but at first, she was skeptical about joining. As a Black woman, she worried she was being asked to participate just to check a box for a funder — not because of her expertise as a successful business owner.

Bush has seen the power of DEI firsthand including a staff retreat when she led a “privilege walk” for her employees.

The *Us & Them* team found several examples of privilege walks on YouTube explaining the activity designed to help people understand how opportunity shapes our lives.

“[After the killing of George Floyd, when there was a push for DEI training programs,] people were coming from the outside who had seen [the privilege walk exercises I led], and they were like, ‘We can get that and check that box, because we held a privilege walk.’ So they sought me out to provide it. They even offered to pay me, signed contracts and all of that. And then [after the backlash against DEI programs around 2024], they all backed out — which I thought was very telling.”

— ***Felicia Bush****, MA, MSW, LGSW, founder and CEO of* *Harmony Mental Health Inc., a nonprofit mental health and social services agency serving nine West Virginia counties.*

President Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Jan. 20.
*Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images*

As soon as he took office in January 2025, President Donald Trump signed many executive orders, including one aimed at dismantling DEI.

One of the orders said, “The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government… Nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted “Equity Action Plans” to detail the ways that furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government. The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination. That ends today.”

John D. Skrentny, professor of sociology at the University of California San Diego, has written and researched the legal and policy issues related to inequality in work and education.
*Photo Courtesy of John Skrentny*

Sociologist John Skrentny of the University of California San Diego says efforts to promote workplace diversity in the U.S. have long been shaped by whether Democrats or Republicans hold political power in Washington.

After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, a new agency — the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) — was tasked with investigating complaints of workplace discrimination. This system would become known as affirmative action, requiring the hiring of underrepresented groups. By the 1980s, enforcement of hiring quotas had fallen out of favor, but many businesses, led by their human resources departments, continued pushing forward.

***“They began to make the argument that it’s actually good for business to have more minorities and women in the workforce... Diversity is good for the bottom line.”***

*— **John Skrentny**, University of California San Diego*

**Books by John Skrentny:**

The The Ironies of Affirmative Action: Politics, Culture, and Justice in America

After Civil Rights: Racial Realism in the New American Workplace

Color Lines: Affirmative Action, Immigration, and Civil Rights Options for America

Target store at the Southridge Shopping Center in South Charleston, W.Va.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, corporate America rushed to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion.The Target corporation, based in Minneapolis, emerged as a leader — highlighting diversity in its recruiting and suppliers and revamping store layouts. But Target is now one of the major U.S. corporations scaling back or abandoning those DEI initiatives.

Yohuru Williams, professor of history and law at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also directs the Racial Justice Initiative at St. Thomas.
*Photo Credit: University St. Thomas Newsroom*

Yohuru Williams, a history and law professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, says fear of backlash is motivating corporate decisions to end DEI initiatives.

“I think there was a moment when Target legitimately could talk about being a leader. People were making deliberate decisions to shop at Target. The company was having an impact in the community. They were recruiting from some of the best universities in the country — also from historically Black colleges and universities — bringing in incredible talent who wanted to work for Target because the company embraced diversity as part of its core identity…

But in the aftermath of Trump’s executive orders and Target’s announcement, there was real fear that all of that would go away. The community had a visceral reaction. People were saying, ‘You made this promise, we made this progress together — so if you walk away from this work, where does that leave us?’”

*— **Yohuru Williams**, professor of history and law and director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota*

**Books by Yohuru Williams:**

More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

A Constant Struggle: African-American History 1865-Present

President Donald Trump supported Patrick Morrisey in his successful campaign and election as Governor of West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Patrick Morrisey Campaign*

Soon after winning the 2024 election, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey made his intentions clear. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “I will work very hard to implement the Trump agenda right here in West Virginia. Are you ready for a governor who will be fighting to help Trump?”

One of Gov. Morrisey’s first official acts was to sign an executive order eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion across state government. The order applied to public and charter schools, colleges and universities, state agencies, boards and departments.

Just weeks later, West Virginia University — the state’s largest university and employer — announced it would immediately close its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

"Here in West Virginia, we’re going to do the right thing, and we’re going to make sure that West Virginia always stands for freedom, the rule of law and the American ideal. We’re going to keep going — this is just the beginning of our effort to root out DEI. That’s going to happen more and more in the weeks and months ahead."

*— West Virginia **Gov. Patrick Morrisey**, in a video post praising West Virginia University for its decision to end its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.*

West Virginia State Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, argued in the 2025 legislative session that diversity, equity and inclusion programs make it harder for marginalized communities to move forward.
*Photo Credit: WV Legislative Photography*

West Virginia State Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, one of five women in the Senate, is a vocal opponent of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Rucker, who immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela at age 6, says the push for DEI offends her as a minority.

“I think, in general, people consider diversity a good thing, inclusion a good thing, equity a good thing. Those are all descriptions that are favorable in anyone's minds, if you just say them in isolation. The real concern and problem is a push using the guise of DEI of those words to really, actually, I think, do reverse discrimination. And as a minority myself. I can tell you, I'm offended. The whole entire DEI push that we have done in this country offends me personally. It is telling me I need help, and that unless someone lowers the standards for me, I can't get to the same place. And that's offensive.”

*— West Virginia State **Sen. Patricia Rucker**, R-Jefferson*

Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, the only Black woman in the West Virginia Legislature, speaks at a town hall meeting in Charleston addressing a bill to eliminate DEI initiatives in state institutions.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

As West Virginia lawmakers advanced a bill to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts across state institutions, Del. Anitra Hamilton raised concerns during a House Education Committee hearing.

Hamilton, one of the few Black lawmakers in the state Legislature, joined others — both Black and white — in questioning the bill’s necessity in a predominantly white state. Critics, including Hamilton, pointed to the proposal’s vague language and warned it could mislabel legitimate inclusion efforts as discriminatory.

In the final hours of the 2025 legislative session, the Republican-majority state legislature voted to pass the measure to end DEI initiatives statewide. Following the vote, the West Virginia Democratic Party criticized Senate Republican leaders for suspending Senate rules to achieve the vote.

“I think this is a poor piece of legislation that is written to divide us. I think that any time you write legislation and put in policies that's based on the feelings of people, it will always land you in trouble, because feelings are subjective. At the end of the day, this bill is divisive. There is no need for it. Some of the ghosts of our past we keep alive because we won't deal with issues. DEI, we don't have this problem in West Virginia. We create these problems. And when we do have the problems, we won't stand for what's right. Today I'm standing and I'm gonna be on the right side of history because it matters. It's offensive. It's offensive to me. It's offensive to my ancestors. My great great grandfather was a slave. That's how my family got here. But no one else has that testimony here. DEI matters. At some point, West Virginia has to move beyond this. And why we got to have this legislation coming from the governor's office, I do not know. I'm against it. I will always be against it, vote your pleasure. It's a no for me.”

*— **Del. Anitra Hamilton**, D-Monongalia*

Rev. Matthew Watts, pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Charleston, W.Va.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Rev. Matthew Watts, a longtime activist and pastor of Grace Bible Church in Charleston, West Virginia, has been a vocal critic of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s bill to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across state institutions.

***"He produced no data, no information, no statistics, no witnesses. He didn’t tell any anecdotal stories as to why diversity, equity and inclusion is a problem.***

"We’re not just going to roll over and say, ‘OK, all is lost. We can’t do anything. We’re back in slavery. We no longer have the right to vote. We don’t have the right to speak. We no longer have our constitutional rights.’ No — we’re going to push back.

"I can only say, I live in West Virginia. It doesn’t apply here. It’s dangerous here. It’s divisive here. It would be destructive here. It would hurt this state. And I believe if you give people truth, facts and information, the people in the state of West Virginia will see through this."

*— **Rev. Matthew Watts**, senior pastor of Grace Bible Church, Charleston, W.Va.*

Karen Williams, a part of the local NAACP’s political action committee helped organize the town hall meeting to bring the community together to form a plan to stop West Virginia’s Anti-DEI bill from passing.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Karen Williams greeted a group of Black and white West Virginians at a town hall meeting at Grace Bible Church, held on the 57th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“So we gather here today because the question is: Will the destruction of diversity, equity and inclusion kill the dream? We cannot be silent anymore. We have to have a response when they talk about erasing history, when they don’t even understand the definition of DEI — and we have to get that clear.

“We’re going to clarify that, because it’s not just a Black face. You have women who have benefited from DEI more than anyone. You have people with disabilities, you have veterans, you have all of these groups. But when they talk about DEI, they’re talking about doing away with our history.”

*— **Karen Williams**, a member of the Charleston, W.Va., NAACP’s political action committee*

Rev. Marlon Collins of Shiloh Baptist Church speaks at a town hall meeting against legislative efforts to ban nearly all DEI initiatives.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Rev. Marlon Collins of Shiloh Baptist Church voiced urgent concern at a town hall meeting over West Virginia’s push to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

***“Can we get done with all the sanitized talk now? We can come up with plans and all that, and that’s cool. But we’re dealing with racists. There’s no reasoning with these people.***

***“They are right in front of our doggone face — executive orders to take Black history out of the Smithsonian, not even under the table. And we still don’t have a plan.***

“All the people who are Black — my mother’s age, my father’s age — and all the white people who marched with them and got sprayed, they’re going to vote. But who we need are the people who have new ideas, who have new energy. It ain’t that ‘We Shall Overcome’ energy. It’s that ‘We kickin’ the hell out of the door in’ energy.”

*— **Rev. Marlon Collins**, Shiloh Baptist Church, Charleston, W.Va.*

A woman smiling for a professional photo. She has short reddish, brown hair. — **Us & Them: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion — Its History And The Efforts To Erase It** Apr 23, 2025
For decades, polls have shown most Americans believe equal opportunity in the workplace is beneficial and laws like the 1964 Civil Rights Act worked to achieve that goal. More recently, the effort has included voluntary diversity, equity and inclusion programs - known as DEI.

On this episode of *Us & Them*, host Trey Kay looks at changing social and political sentiment that’s prompted efforts to dismantle the nation’s DEI programs. President Trump’s executive orders require government agencies to stop the programs calling them illegal and immoral discrimination. State lawmakers are taking a cue from Washington and so far more than 30 states have considered or are looking at anti-DEI legislation, with half having already passed such laws.

While some people say diversity programs provide positive societal change and are positive for a business’s bottom line, a growing percentage say the efforts are discriminatory practices that can lower employment standards and do not improve productivity or efficiency in the workplace.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

The debate over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — referred to as DEI — is one of the fiercest fronts in America’s culture wars. These initiatives, rooted in the spirit of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, are meant to ensure fair access and opportunity. Increasing opposition to such programs and initiatives includes executive orders from President Donald Trump as well as dozens of state proposals.

Elliott Hicks is a Charleston lawyer and member of Us & Them's DEI advisory board. He's pictured here at an event at the West Virginia University Law School.
*Photo Credit: West Virginia Executive Magazine*

To explore some of the complexities of DEI, we begin with a look inward at the Us & Them project. Our production team is small and mostly white, made up of a handful of producers—most of whom are women — who write and mix each episode. In the past decade, only one person of color has produced content for the show.

A few years ago, at the suggestion of one of our funders, we created a DEI advisory board including people of color from West Virginia to gain input and feedback from a more diverse range of perspectives. We established a six-member board, all of whom are community leaders with experience serving on corporate, nonprofit and civic boards.

Elliot Hicks, an Us & Them advisory board member, is a longtime attorney based in Charleston, West Virginia, who serves on several boards, including Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Hicks says he joined the Us & Them DEI board because he believes the show is genuinely working to include diverse perspectives on complex issues.

“When you have people of color on boards or in organizations where they haven’t traditionally shown up in large numbers, it helps the thinking process and makes the ideas that come out of those groups more palatable to more people. That’s why it’s to the advantage of the organization to do this and to continue those efforts — and to the advantage of our state. We shouldn’t push that aside just because we don’t have a lot of minorities here.”

— **Elliot Hicks***, lawyer based in Charleston, W.Va.*

Felicia Bush is the owner of a mental health agency and member of Us & Them’s DEI advisory board.
*Photo Courtesy of Felicia Bush*

Felicia Bush is another member of the *Us & Them* DEI advisory board, but at first, she was skeptical about joining. As a Black woman, she worried she was being asked to participate just to check a box for a funder — not because of her expertise as a successful business owner.

Bush has seen the power of DEI firsthand including a staff retreat when she led a “privilege walk” for her employees.

The *Us & Them* team found several examples of privilege walks on YouTube explaining the activity designed to help people understand how opportunity shapes our lives.

“[After the killing of George Floyd, when there was a push for DEI training programs,] people were coming from the outside who had seen [the privilege walk exercises I led], and they were like, ‘We can get that and check that box, because we held a privilege walk.’ So they sought me out to provide it. They even offered to pay me, signed contracts and all of that. And then [after the backlash against DEI programs around 2024], they all backed out — which I thought was very telling.”

— ***Felicia Bush****, MA, MSW, LGSW, founder and CEO of* *Harmony Mental Health Inc., a nonprofit mental health and social services agency serving nine West Virginia counties.*

President Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Jan. 20.
*Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images*

As soon as he took office in January 2025, President Donald Trump signed many executive orders, including one aimed at dismantling DEI.

One of the orders said, “The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government… Nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted “Equity Action Plans” to detail the ways that furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government. The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination. That ends today.”

John D. Skrentny, professor of sociology at the University of California San Diego, has written and researched the legal and policy issues related to inequality in work and education.
*Photo Courtesy of John Skrentny*

Sociologist John Skrentny of the University of California San Diego says efforts to promote workplace diversity in the U.S. have long been shaped by whether Democrats or Republicans hold political power in Washington.

After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, a new agency — the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) — was tasked with investigating complaints of workplace discrimination. This system would become known as affirmative action, requiring the hiring of underrepresented groups. By the 1980s, enforcement of hiring quotas had fallen out of favor, but many businesses, led by their human resources departments, continued pushing forward.

***“They began to make the argument that it’s actually good for business to have more minorities and women in the workforce... Diversity is good for the bottom line.”***

*— **John Skrentny**, University of California San Diego*

**Books by John Skrentny:**

The The Ironies of Affirmative Action: Politics, Culture, and Justice in America

After Civil Rights: Racial Realism in the New American Workplace

Color Lines: Affirmative Action, Immigration, and Civil Rights Options for America

Target store at the Southridge Shopping Center in South Charleston, W.Va.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, corporate America rushed to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion.The Target corporation, based in Minneapolis, emerged as a leader — highlighting diversity in its recruiting and suppliers and revamping store layouts. But Target is now one of the major U.S. corporations scaling back or abandoning those DEI initiatives.

Yohuru Williams, professor of history and law at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also directs the Racial Justice Initiative at St. Thomas.
*Photo Credit: University St. Thomas Newsroom*

Yohuru Williams, a history and law professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, says fear of backlash is motivating corporate decisions to end DEI initiatives.

“I think there was a moment when Target legitimately could talk about being a leader. People were making deliberate decisions to shop at Target. The company was having an impact in the community. They were recruiting from some of the best universities in the country — also from historically Black colleges and universities — bringing in incredible talent who wanted to work for Target because the company embraced diversity as part of its core identity…

But in the aftermath of Trump’s executive orders and Target’s announcement, there was real fear that all of that would go away. The community had a visceral reaction. People were saying, ‘You made this promise, we made this progress together — so if you walk away from this work, where does that leave us?’”

*— **Yohuru Williams**, professor of history and law and director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota*

**Books by Yohuru Williams:**

More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

A Constant Struggle: African-American History 1865-Present

President Donald Trump supported Patrick Morrisey in his successful campaign and election as Governor of West Virginia.
*Photo Credit: Patrick Morrisey Campaign*

Soon after winning the 2024 election, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey made his intentions clear. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “I will work very hard to implement the Trump agenda right here in West Virginia. Are you ready for a governor who will be fighting to help Trump?”

One of Gov. Morrisey’s first official acts was to sign an executive order eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion across state government. The order applied to public and charter schools, colleges and universities, state agencies, boards and departments.

Just weeks later, West Virginia University — the state’s largest university and employer — announced it would immediately close its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

"Here in West Virginia, we’re going to do the right thing, and we’re going to make sure that West Virginia always stands for freedom, the rule of law and the American ideal. We’re going to keep going — this is just the beginning of our effort to root out DEI. That’s going to happen more and more in the weeks and months ahead."

*— West Virginia **Gov. Patrick Morrisey**, in a video post praising West Virginia University for its decision to end its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.*

West Virginia State Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, argued in the 2025 legislative session that diversity, equity and inclusion programs make it harder for marginalized communities to move forward.
*Photo Credit: WV Legislative Photography*

West Virginia State Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, one of five women in the Senate, is a vocal opponent of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Rucker, who immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela at age 6, says the push for DEI offends her as a minority.

“I think, in general, people consider diversity a good thing, inclusion a good thing, equity a good thing. Those are all descriptions that are favorable in anyone's minds, if you just say them in isolation. The real concern and problem is a push using the guise of DEI of those words to really, actually, I think, do reverse discrimination. And as a minority myself. I can tell you, I'm offended. The whole entire DEI push that we have done in this country offends me personally. It is telling me I need help, and that unless someone lowers the standards for me, I can't get to the same place. And that's offensive.”

*— West Virginia State **Sen. Patricia Rucker**, R-Jefferson*

Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, the only Black woman in the West Virginia Legislature, speaks at a town hall meeting in Charleston addressing a bill to eliminate DEI initiatives in state institutions.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

As West Virginia lawmakers advanced a bill to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts across state institutions, Del. Anitra Hamilton raised concerns during a House Education Committee hearing.

Hamilton, one of the few Black lawmakers in the state Legislature, joined others — both Black and white — in questioning the bill’s necessity in a predominantly white state. Critics, including Hamilton, pointed to the proposal’s vague language and warned it could mislabel legitimate inclusion efforts as discriminatory.

In the final hours of the 2025 legislative session, the Republican-majority state legislature voted to pass the measure to end DEI initiatives statewide. Following the vote, the West Virginia Democratic Party criticized Senate Republican leaders for suspending Senate rules to achieve the vote.

“I think this is a poor piece of legislation that is written to divide us. I think that any time you write legislation and put in policies that's based on the feelings of people, it will always land you in trouble, because feelings are subjective. At the end of the day, this bill is divisive. There is no need for it. Some of the ghosts of our past we keep alive because we won't deal with issues. DEI, we don't have this problem in West Virginia. We create these problems. And when we do have the problems, we won't stand for what's right. Today I'm standing and I'm gonna be on the right side of history because it matters. It's offensive. It's offensive to me. It's offensive to my ancestors. My great great grandfather was a slave. That's how my family got here. But no one else has that testimony here. DEI matters. At some point, West Virginia has to move beyond this. And why we got to have this legislation coming from the governor's office, I do not know. I'm against it. I will always be against it, vote your pleasure. It's a no for me.”

*— **Del. Anitra Hamilton**, D-Monongalia*

Rev. Matthew Watts, pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Charleston, W.Va.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Rev. Matthew Watts, a longtime activist and pastor of Grace Bible Church in Charleston, West Virginia, has been a vocal critic of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s bill to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across state institutions.

***"He produced no data, no information, no statistics, no witnesses. He didn’t tell any anecdotal stories as to why diversity, equity and inclusion is a problem.***

"We’re not just going to roll over and say, ‘OK, all is lost. We can’t do anything. We’re back in slavery. We no longer have the right to vote. We don’t have the right to speak. We no longer have our constitutional rights.’ No — we’re going to push back.

"I can only say, I live in West Virginia. It doesn’t apply here. It’s dangerous here. It’s divisive here. It would be destructive here. It would hurt this state. And I believe if you give people truth, facts and information, the people in the state of West Virginia will see through this."

*— **Rev. Matthew Watts**, senior pastor of Grace Bible Church, Charleston, W.Va.*

Karen Williams, a part of the local NAACP’s political action committee helped organize the town hall meeting to bring the community together to form a plan to stop West Virginia’s Anti-DEI bill from passing.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Karen Williams greeted a group of Black and white West Virginians at a town hall meeting at Grace Bible Church, held on the 57th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“So we gather here today because the question is: Will the destruction of diversity, equity and inclusion kill the dream? We cannot be silent anymore. We have to have a response when they talk about erasing history, when they don’t even understand the definition of DEI — and we have to get that clear.

“We’re going to clarify that, because it’s not just a Black face. You have women who have benefited from DEI more than anyone. You have people with disabilities, you have veterans, you have all of these groups. But when they talk about DEI, they’re talking about doing away with our history.”

*— **Karen Williams**, a member of the Charleston, W.Va., NAACP’s political action committee*

Rev. Marlon Collins of Shiloh Baptist Church speaks at a town hall meeting against legislative efforts to ban nearly all DEI initiatives.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Rev. Marlon Collins of Shiloh Baptist Church voiced urgent concern at a town hall meeting over West Virginia’s push to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

***“Can we get done with all the sanitized talk now? We can come up with plans and all that, and that’s cool. But we’re dealing with racists. There’s no reasoning with these people.***

***“They are right in front of our doggone face — executive orders to take Black history out of the Smithsonian, not even under the table. And we still don’t have a plan.***

“All the people who are Black — my mother’s age, my father’s age — and all the white people who marched with them and got sprayed, they’re going to vote. But who we need are the people who have new ideas, who have new energy. It ain’t that ‘We Shall Overcome’ energy. It’s that ‘We kickin’ the hell out of the door in’ energy.”

*— **Rev. Marlon Collins**, Shiloh Baptist Church, Charleston, W.Va.*

Tariffs Impact Agriculture And W.Va. Poet Releases Book, This West Virginia Morning Apr 23, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, some farmers in neighboring Kentucky are worried about the impact tariffs spearheaded by President Donald Trump could have on their earnings. As Lily Burris with member station WKMS reports, that is because trade wars cost the state's farmers nearly $3 billion in revenue during Trump's first term.

Plus, Torli Bush is originally from Webster Springs, but his writing has reached well beyond Webster County. The rising voice in the Black Appalachian poetry scene released a new book this winter, “Requiem for a Redbird,” and gave Bill Lynch with Inside Appalachia the details.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

New Sustainability Goals At WVU And A Plant-Based Appalachian Table, This West Virginia Morning Apr 22, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, today is Earth Day, and people all over the world are taking time to focus on the environment and our effect on the natural world.

To mark the day, West Virginia University has announced a comprehensive set of more than 20 sustainability goals, to attain significant environmental improvements across the university's campus by 2035. Traci Knabenshue, director of sustainability at WVU, spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about the need to focus and act on sustainability now.

And from Inside Appalachia, Jan Brandenburg is a pharmacist, writer and vegan in Eastern Kentucky. Over the last 30 years, she’s collected and perfected recipes that take a plant-based approach to the Appalachian table. She spoke with Bill Lynch about her new book The Modern Mountain Cookbook.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Push For Microgrids And A Revival Of Video Rentals, This West Virginia Morning Apr 21, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we look into the push to expand the number of microgrids in West Virginia. The self-generating energy sources are key to Gov. Patrick Morrisey's plan to draw more data centers to the state.

Curtis Tate caught up with Reid Frazier, a reporter for environmental newsroom the Allegheny Front who has covered a similar project recently announced in Pennsylvania.

Also in this episode, the days of Blockbuster and Family Video may be bygone, but one small shop in western Kentucky us keeping the video rental business alive. Derek Operle with member station WKMS brings us this story as part of the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A finger points to a single chanterelle mushroom that has sprouted out of the ground. — **Springtime Arrives, Inside Appalachia** Apr 18, 2025
We head to the woods for a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms.

And the woman behind the popular TikTok account “Appalachian Forager” makes jam from pawpaws and jewelry from coyote teeth.

We also visit the Alleghany Highlands, where mountain maple syrup traditions are changing with the times.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Fun With Foraging For Fungi**

**Appalachian Forager Found On TikTok**

**The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And West Virginia**

**Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods**

Fun With Foraging For Fungi

A single, ancient chanterelle on the forest floor proved to be the only mushroom found the day of the hunt.
*Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Mushroom hunting has always been a part of Appalachian culture, but especially in recent years, mushrooms have been having a moment. In 2023, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spent time with fungi enthusiasts in Virginia and West Virginia and brought us this story.

Appalachian Forager Found On TikTok

Johnson finds pawpaws on her family’s property in eastern Kentucky.
*Photo Credit: Amanda Page/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Gathering wild foods has long been a way to put food on the table in the Appalachian Mountains. But foraging is an acquired skill, and it’s not so easy to learn unless you have people to show you. Of course, in the internet age, it’s become a lot easier to find those kinds of folks, in online communities devoted to mushroom hunting and using native plants. One woman in Eastern Kentucky made a name for herself online as “Appalachian Forager.” And her videos have gone viral.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Amanda Page visited Appalachian Forager and had this story.

The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And West Virginia

Valerie Lowry offers samples to visitors at the Highland County Maple Syrup Festival.
*Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

For warm weather lovers, the transition from winter to spring can be an excruciating time, with fits and starts, and fool’s spring. But that agonizing transition between cold and warmer weather also affects trees. Their sap inches up and then comes back down — and that’s how we get maple syrup.

Highland County, Virginia, and its neighbors in West Virginia are some of the southernmost places in the U.S. to make maple syrup.

Generations of people in these communities have turned tapping trees for syrup into a longstanding tradition — but modern producers are experimenting with new syrups while adapting to changing demands, and a changing climate.

From our Folkways archives, we bring you this story from Clara Haizlett.

Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods

Lee Orr crafts simple fly fishing rods that are anything but simple.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcas*ting

For a lot of people, the best part of spring isn’t blooming trees or gardens, or even the return of warmer weather. It’s the return of trout fishing season. And while some anglers update their tackle with the latest innovations and new lures, fly fishing is a different story. A lot of folks who fly fish prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, with fishing flies and rods made by hand using traditional materials.

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took us out on the Elk River for a lesson in the art of fly fishing.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, John Inghram, Tim Bing, Mary Hott and Bob Thompson.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Jennifer Goren, Chris Julin, Nicole Musgrave and Mallory Noe-Payne.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

An adult woman sits on a four-wheeler wearing sunglasses. She smiles for the camera. She wears a tank top shirt and black pants. She sports a messy bun of hair. There is a wicker basket on the front of the four-wheeler. She also picks pawpaws from a tree. — **Springtime Arrives, Inside Appalachia** Apr 18, 2025
We head to the woods for a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms.

And the woman behind the popular TikTok account “Appalachian Forager” makes jam from pawpaws and jewelry from coyote teeth.

We also visit the Alleghany Highlands, where mountain maple syrup traditions are changing with the times.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Fun With Foraging For Fungi**

**Appalachian Forager Found On TikTok**

**The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And West Virginia**

**Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods**

Fun With Foraging For Fungi

A single, ancient chanterelle on the forest floor proved to be the only mushroom found the day of the hunt.
*Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Mushroom hunting has always been a part of Appalachian culture, but especially in recent years, mushrooms have been having a moment. In 2023, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spent time with fungi enthusiasts in Virginia and West Virginia and brought us this story.

Appalachian Forager Found On TikTok

Johnson finds pawpaws on her family’s property in eastern Kentucky.
*Photo Credit: Amanda Page/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Gathering wild foods has long been a way to put food on the table in the Appalachian Mountains. But foraging is an acquired skill, and it’s not so easy to learn unless you have people to show you. Of course, in the internet age, it’s become a lot easier to find those kinds of folks, in online communities devoted to mushroom hunting and using native plants. One woman in Eastern Kentucky made a name for herself online as “Appalachian Forager.” And her videos have gone viral.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Amanda Page visited Appalachian Forager and had this story.

The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And West Virginia

Valerie Lowry offers samples to visitors at the Highland County Maple Syrup Festival.
*Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

For warm weather lovers, the transition from winter to spring can be an excruciating time, with fits and starts, and fool’s spring. But that agonizing transition between cold and warmer weather also affects trees. Their sap inches up and then comes back down — and that’s how we get maple syrup.

Highland County, Virginia, and its neighbors in West Virginia are some of the southernmost places in the U.S. to make maple syrup.

Generations of people in these communities have turned tapping trees for syrup into a longstanding tradition — but modern producers are experimenting with new syrups while adapting to changing demands, and a changing climate.

From our Folkways archives, we bring you this story from Clara Haizlett.

Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods

Lee Orr crafts simple fly fishing rods that are anything but simple.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcas*ting

For a lot of people, the best part of spring isn’t blooming trees or gardens, or even the return of warmer weather. It’s the return of trout fishing season. And while some anglers update their tackle with the latest innovations and new lures, fly fishing is a different story. A lot of folks who fly fish prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, with fishing flies and rods made by hand using traditional materials.

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took us out on the Elk River for a lesson in the art of fly fishing.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, John Inghram, Tim Bing, Mary Hott and Bob Thompson.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Jennifer Goren, Chris Julin, Nicole Musgrave and Mallory Noe-Payne.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Author Examines The Kingston Fossil Plant Spill And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Apr 18, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, author Jared Sullivan looks at a man-made disaster after a coal ash dam broke just outside of Kingston, Tennessee and the clean-up. For Inside Appalachia, Sullivan spoke with Mason Adams about his book "Valley So Low: One Lawyer's Fight for Justice in the Wake of America's Great Coal Catastrophe.”

Also earlier this month, the Trump administration granted exemptions on new regulations for mercury and other air pollutants to dozens of coal - fired power plants, including three in West Virginia. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier reports the exemptions were supported by the grid operator for the mid-Atlantic region.

And our Song of the Week comes from folk singer-songwriter, Loudon Wainwright III, who has made over 17 appearances on Mountain Stage in every decade since the show started in 1983. We hear his performance of "Middle of the Night".

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Using Art To Communicate And Lead Pollution Exposure In Children, This West Virginia Morning Apr 17, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Eastern Panhandle artist Antonia Capriotti creates paintings and illustrations that are full of life. Her journey as an artist began in Jefferson County’s public schools, where special education classes helped her discover a lifelong passion.

And The Allegheny Front is based in Pittsburgh and reports on regional environmental news. Their latest story looks at the findings of a study into how infants and young children get exposed to dangerous levels of lead – and what happens when they do.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Cultural Events Lose Federal Funding And Environmental Impacts Of Executive Order, This West Virginia Morning Apr 16, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony went ahead Saturday night despite a massive, eleventh-hour setback. Maria Young reports on the unexpected loss of promised federal funds and how that might impact cultural events across the state.

And The Allegheny Front, a public radio program that reports on environmental issues based in Pittsburgh, looks at President Donald Trump’s executive orders on energy and what they mean for the environment.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Cuts At NIOSH Morgantown And Revitalizing A Coal-Fired Power Plant Site, This West Virginia Morning Apr 15, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning,two weeks ago, almost all the workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health offices in Morgantown woke up to notifications that they were out of a job. The cuts are part of a sweeping reduction in force at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as across the federal government in general. Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with one of the affected workers, Kyle Mandler, to talk about the cuts.

And from Pittsburgh-based The Allegheny Front, the site of a recently demolished coal-fired power plant in western Pennsylvania is being redeveloped. Its owners say they will spend $10 billion dollars to build a gas-fired power plant and data center on the Indiana County site.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Passed And Failed Legislation Of the 2025 Session And Traditional Tattoos And Music In East Kentucky, This West Virginia Morning Apr 14, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the state legislature wrapped up its 2025 regular session at midnight Saturday night, deciding the final fate – for more than 24-hundred bills that were filed, discussed, debated and voted on over the last two months. Maria Young reports on the high profile legislation that passed – and failed –during the session.

And from Inside Appalachia, John Haywood is the proprietor of Parlor Room Art and Tattoo in Whitesburg, Kentucky –a place where some people get inked up and some play traditional music.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Reporter Roundtable Looks Ahead To Final Hours Of 2025 Session Apr 11, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, for our final show, WVPB reporters Curtis Tate, Emily Rice and Jack Walker discuss some of the big bills they've been following this session and what they are keeping an eye on in the final hours.

Join us Saturday, April 12 for our Final Hours program as we follow along with legislative action from 8 p.m. to midnight.

In the House Friday, Jack Walker recaps some of the bills lawmakers discussed as the session wraps up.

Also, the Senate and House are working together to get bills across the finish line, but first they have to agree with changes that the other chamber made. Briana Heaney has more.

And our high school reporters Emily Browning and Malia Saar wanted a better understanding of the mechanics of the legislature. A couple weeks ago, they got a chance to speak with Steve Harrison, a former delegate, senator and served the House of Delegates for several years as the House Clerk.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHmhdI1cRFY

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A black-and-white image of a dam. — **‘Valley So Low,’ Climbing Crafts And Vegan Cooking, Inside Appalachia** Apr 11, 2025
A new book looks into the toxic legacy of a huge industrial disaster in Tennessee.

Also, rock climbing gear wears out. But it can still live on as art.

And, an Eastern Kentucky pharmacist serves vegan food for the holidays.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**A Coal Ash Spill And A Labor Justice Fight**

**Crafter Turns Climbing Gear Into Cozy Crafts**

**The Modern Mountain Cookbook**

A Coal Ash Spill And A Labor Justice Fight

Tennesse Valley Authority’s Norris Dam, circa 1936, near Andersonville, Tennessee.
*Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USW33-015709-C*

Just before Christmas 2008, Appalachia became the site of the largest industrial spill in U.S. history. A dam holding back coal ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant ruptured. The break released over a billion gallons of toxic coal ash slurry.

The spill — and what came after — are the subject of a recent book, *Valley So Low: One Lawyer's Fight for Justice in the Wake of America's Great Coal Catastrophe*. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Jared Sullivan.

Crafter Turns Climbing Gear Into Cozy Crafts

Shelby Treichler stands smiling holding a wall hanging she’s made out of the inner core pieces of old climbing rope. The wall hanging, artfully designed to look like a bright red flower encircled by sage green leaves, is about the size of a placemat.
*Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Over time, outdoor gear wears out. Boots lose their tread. Kayaks and canoes spring leaks. Climbing rope frays. Most of it has to be thrown away.

In Western North Carolina, though, there’s a climber-turned-crafter who keeps old climbing gear out of the landfill. And finds new life for worn out equipment. Last year, Folkways Reporter Emily Chen-Newton brought us this story.

The Modern Mountain Cookbook

*The Modern Mountain Cookbook* by Jan A. Brandenburg.
*Courtesy Photo*

When you think of “Appalachian cooking,” what comes to mind? For a lot of folks, it’s savory comfort foods like biscuits with sausage gravy, crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes loaded with butter. But, what about folks who want that comfort food, without involving animals?

Jan Brandenburg is a pharmacist and poet in Eastern Kentucky. Over the last 30 years, she’s collected and perfected recipes that take a plant-based approach to the Appalachian table. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Brandenburg about her new book The Modern Mountain Cookbook.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Vincent Huey, Larry Rader, Jeff Ellis, Tim Bing and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A woman in grey shows off an elaborate flower crafted from recycled climbing rope. — **‘Valley So Low,’ Climbing Crafts And Vegan Cooking, Inside Appalachia** Apr 11, 2025
A new book looks into the toxic legacy of a huge industrial disaster in Tennessee.

Also, rock climbing gear wears out. But it can still live on as art.

And, an Eastern Kentucky pharmacist serves vegan food for the holidays.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**A Coal Ash Spill And A Labor Justice Fight**

**Crafter Turns Climbing Gear Into Cozy Crafts**

**The Modern Mountain Cookbook**

A Coal Ash Spill And A Labor Justice Fight

Tennesse Valley Authority’s Norris Dam, circa 1936, near Andersonville, Tennessee.
*Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USW33-015709-C*

Just before Christmas 2008, Appalachia became the site of the largest industrial spill in U.S. history. A dam holding back coal ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant ruptured. The break released over a billion gallons of toxic coal ash slurry.

The spill — and what came after — are the subject of a recent book, *Valley So Low: One Lawyer's Fight for Justice in the Wake of America's Great Coal Catastrophe*. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Jared Sullivan.

Crafter Turns Climbing Gear Into Cozy Crafts

Shelby Treichler stands smiling holding a wall hanging she’s made out of the inner core pieces of old climbing rope. The wall hanging, artfully designed to look like a bright red flower encircled by sage green leaves, is about the size of a placemat.
*Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Over time, outdoor gear wears out. Boots lose their tread. Kayaks and canoes spring leaks. Climbing rope frays. Most of it has to be thrown away.

In Western North Carolina, though, there’s a climber-turned-crafter who keeps old climbing gear out of the landfill. And finds new life for worn out equipment. Last year, Folkways Reporter Emily Chen-Newton brought us this story.

The Modern Mountain Cookbook

*The Modern Mountain Cookbook* by Jan A. Brandenburg.
*Courtesy Photo*

When you think of “Appalachian cooking,” what comes to mind? For a lot of folks, it’s savory comfort foods like biscuits with sausage gravy, crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes loaded with butter. But, what about folks who want that comfort food, without involving animals?

Jan Brandenburg is a pharmacist and poet in Eastern Kentucky. Over the last 30 years, she’s collected and perfected recipes that take a plant-based approach to the Appalachian table. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Brandenburg about her new book The Modern Mountain Cookbook.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Vincent Huey, Larry Rader, Jeff Ellis, Tim Bing and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

The Easter Bunny, Microgrids And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Apr 11, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, we hear about plans for the end of the 2025 regular legislative session and a special celebration outside the capitol. It is time for children and families to enjoy the inaugural Rhododendron Roll for Easter on Saturday. Gov. Patrick Morrisey and the first lady Denise will attend — along with the Easter Bunny.

Microgrids are one of Morrisey’s top legislative priorities this year. For The Legislature Today, energy reporter Curtis Tate spoke with Kelly Allen of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy to learn more.

Our Song of the Week comes from The MC Taylor Goldsmith Show, which combines the breezy California folk-rock of two Mountain Stage alumni: Taylor Goldsmith and MC Taylor. The duo performed a mix of songs from both of their catalogs, including our Song of the Week, “House Parties,” from the album O Brother.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Budget, Policy Expert Talks Microgrids And Tax Revenues Apr 10, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, microgrids are one of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s top legislative priorities this year, and House Bill 2014 is the vehicle to bring more of them to the state. But county officials came to testify earlier this week against the diversion of local property taxes from those facilities to the state. Curtis Tate talks with Kelly Allen of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy about this issue.

The Senate met Thursday morning to go over the first half of bills in the final stages of consideration. Several bills passed narrowly, and many more were left to be considered after our broadcast deadline. Briana Heaney reports from the morning's bills.

With session winding down, members of the House convened for an hours-long floor session Thursday. Jack Walker has this story.

And concerns over the economy, job futures, DEI changes and more extend beyond the legislature in Charleston. Randy Yohe went out earlier Thursday to gauge student concerns on Marshall University’s campus.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nauo7wCCdco

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A Discussion On Energy Apr 09, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Briana Heaney talks with WVPB Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate who has been following several bills this session. As most politicians say, West Virginia is an energy state. Both of West Virginia's U.S. senators were at an event Tuesday sponsored by President Donald Trump where he signed an executive order with the intention of supporting the coal industry.

In the House, delegates made a procedural move to read each bill up for passage in full and debated several amendments. Emily Rice has more.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee reviewed bills Wednesday pertaining to election protocol, drug offenses and the oil and gas industry. Jack Walker brings us this report.

And the Senate Economic Development Committee approved House Bill 2014 on Tuesday after a three and a half hour meeting with testimony from several witnesses. The bill would expand the number of microgrids in the state to support AI and data centers. Curtis Tate has the story.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7GAvbqD3dc

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A New Emergency Shelter In Huntington, Understanding The DEI Bill And Egg Alternatives, This West Virginia Morning Apr 09, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Senate Bill 474 is one of the most contentious bills before the legislature this year. It is commonly referred to as the DEI bill for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. On Tuesday, news director Eric Douglas sat down with Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, and Rev. Paul Dunn from the First Baptist Church of Charleston to discuss what the bill potentially means on The Legislature Today.

Also, as communities across West Virginia have implemented camping bans that target homeless people with nowhere to sleep, the city of Huntington announced a very different approach. As Randy Yohe reports, the city plans to open a new, low barrier shelter away from the business district but close to needed resources.

And with the higher price of eggs, some people are turning to other breakfast foods, like cereal or yogurt. But in central Pennsylvania, WPSU intern Rivka Wolin wanted to find something close to actual eggs. So, she and her roommate cooked up some plant-based egg alternatives and had friends compare the taste to real eggs.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Closer Look At State Lawmakers’ DEI Debate Apr 08, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, lawmakers are moving forward in their efforts to prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in the state. But the push against DEI was opposed by a vocal minority in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning. Jack Walker reports.

News Director Eric Douglas speaks with Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, and Rev. Paul Dunn from the First Baptist Church of Charleston to discuss what the DEI bill potentially means.

Also, Briana Heaney has a story on two bills passed by the legislature that combine state agencies, and she also reports from the House Health Committee where lawmakers met Monday to consider a bill that would close a narrow pathway for minors seeking to receive gender-affirming care.

And as the deadline to read a bill for the first time on both chamber floors Thursday looms, committees on both sides are doing their final work of the legislative session. As Chris Schulz reports, that includes a number of education related bills.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC9kxuB-h-4

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Outgoing UMWA President Talks Legacy And Advocates Discuss Rising Electricity Costs, This West Virginia Morning Apr 08, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, Cecil Roberts will step down as president of the United Mine Workers of America in October. Roberts says that in his 30 years at the head of the union, no achievement was more important than saving the health care and pensions of tens of thousands of retired coal miners. He spoke last week with Curtis Tate about that effort and his coming retirement.

And as part of our daily broadcast The Legislature Today, energy reporter Curtis Tate sat down in our studio with Gary Zuckett and Shawn Phillips of West Virginia Citizen Action Group to discuss electricity prices that have been rising at a rate faster than inflation in West Virginia.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Lawmakers Enter Final Week Of 2025 Regular Session Apr 07, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we're in the final week of the regular state legislative session. Everything ends Saturday at midnight. Any bill that isn’t finalized and on its way to the governor by then is effectively dead until next year.

In the Senate, the body cleared a bill Monday that would change how often a landowner has to certify managed timberland from once a year to once every five years. That bill is headed to the governor's desk. They also approved some supplemental appropriations bills, like one that would give the birth to three programs an extra nearly $6 million.

In the House, delegates approved more than 20 bills without debate and adjourned until 5:30 p.m. Monday. Emily Rice has more.

Last month, senators overwhelmingly passed a bill that would expand criminal penalties against those who sell illicit drugs. But Senate Bill 196 drew a more mixed reaction among members of the House Judiciary Committee Monday morning. Jack Walker brings us this report.

And electricity prices have been rising in West Virginia at a rate faster than inflation. This summer, Appalachian Power seeks to increase them more, sparking public protest at the Capitol and the Public Service Commission (PSC).Curtis Tate talks with Gary Zuckett and Shawn Phillips of West Virginia Citizen Action Group to discuss this issue.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLfLSJCWIMw

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

How SNAP Restrictions Affect W.Va. And A Hot Dog Legacy Lives On, This West Virginia Morning Apr 07, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, federal and state officials want to expand eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and limit what participants can buy. As Jack Walker reports, that could have big impacts on small-town West Virginia, where roughly 1 in 6 residents used SNAP dollars last year.

And for generations, Skeenies Hot Dogs in Sissonville was a local staple. The restaurant closed in 2018 — but as Folkways reporter Zack Harold explores, it comes alive for the annual Skeenies Tribute Sale just one day a year.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Education Legislation, A Statewide Camping Ban And Budget Bills, This West Virginia Week Apr 05, 2025

On this West Virginia Week, as the legislative session winds down, both chambers are working to pass a balanced budget and come up with a final product both sides will agree to.

We’ll also hear about issues the coal industry is facing, at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, several cities across West Virginia have implemented bans designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public spaces. Now, a bill to ban so-called camping statewide is making its way through the legislature.

We also discuss education-related topics in front of the legislature – from teacher pay to curriculum and school discipline.

Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Reporter Roundtable Talks Budget, Energy And FOIA Legislation Apr 04, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the coal and natural gas industries play a large role in the state’s economy and the West Virginia Legislature pays close attention to what's happening in terms of severance taxes, jobs and economic development. For our weekly reporter roundtable, WVPB reporters Briana Heaney and Curtis Tate are joined by Energy & Environment Reporter Sarah Elbeshbishi with the nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight.

The Senate met on Friday and passed several bills without discussion. Some of those had previously garnered debate. One such bill was House Bill 2172, adding an athletic trainer to the Board of Physical Therapy.

And each week throughout this legislative session, our high school reporters have filed stories that interest them as teens, but also as members of the community. This week, Emma Browning and Malia Saar wanted to look into legislation affecting the foster care system in the state.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_X53antrjs

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A young man climbs the side of a mountain. He wears a yellow helmet, blue t-shirt and khaki pants and climbing shoes. It's a sunny day. — **Encore: The Climbing Climate And Paddle Making, Inside Appalachia** Apr 04, 2025
Rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some *pumpy* crags.

Also, climbers have also been working to make West Virginia's New River Gorge more inclusive.

And, a master craftsman, who makes one of a kind whitewater paddles, remembers some advice.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing**

**Removing Racist Language From Rock Climbing**

**Crafting A Classic Paddle**

Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing

Wearing an orange helmet and royal blue harness, Brian Liebenow holds onto the rock above his head looking down for the best place to move his feet. The green tinted sandstone looks like dragon scales in the morning light.
*Photo Credit: Katie Jo Myers/Adaptive Climbers Festival, 2023*

The mountains of Appalachia are home to some killer rock climbing, but they’re also accessible for some groups who’ve felt excluded in the past.

Adaptive sports reporter Emily Chen-Newton covers athletes with disabilities. She brings us this story, exploring why climbing festivals are making a home in Appalachia.

Removing Racist Language From Rock Climbing

DJ Grant climbing a route at New River Gorge.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In West Virginia, one of the most popular climbing destinations is the New River Gorge. Advanced rock climbers continue to pioneer new climbing routes there. The first people to climb these new routes are called “first ascensionists.” And they get the privilege of naming the routes. But what happens when dozens of those route names are plainly and clearly offensive?

In 2020 and 2021, Zack Harold followed the story of a climber at the New River Gorge who wanted to make the sport he loved more inclusive for his son.

Crafting A Classic Paddle

Jon Rugh with his wooden paddle at the New River near Blacksburg, VA.
*Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachia has several huge rivers — the New River, the Youghiogheny, the Pigeon — so, it’s no surprise whitewater paddling is popular across the region, but it wasn’t all that long ago that modern paddlers first started exploring these rivers, designing their own gear and even building their own paddles. Some of those DIY paddle makers became master crafters.

Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett followed one.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sturgeon Creek, Anthony Vega, Oakfield, the Delorian, Biba Dupont, Marissa Anderson, Tyler Childers, Jerry Douglas and John Blissard.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

A black man climbing the side of a cliff at New River Gorge. — **Encore: The Climbing Climate And Paddle Making, Inside Appalachia** Apr 04, 2025
Rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some *pumpy* crags.

Also, climbers have also been working to make West Virginia's New River Gorge more inclusive.

And, a master craftsman, who makes one of a kind whitewater paddles, remembers some advice.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, *Inside Appalachia*.

**In This Episode:**

**Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing**

**Removing Racist Language From Rock Climbing**

**Crafting A Classic Paddle**

Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing

Wearing an orange helmet and royal blue harness, Brian Liebenow holds onto the rock above his head looking down for the best place to move his feet. The green tinted sandstone looks like dragon scales in the morning light.
*Photo Credit: Katie Jo Myers/Adaptive Climbers Festival, 2023*

The mountains of Appalachia are home to some killer rock climbing, but they’re also accessible for some groups who’ve felt excluded in the past.

Adaptive sports reporter Emily Chen-Newton covers athletes with disabilities. She brings us this story, exploring why climbing festivals are making a home in Appalachia.

Removing Racist Language From Rock Climbing

DJ Grant climbing a route at New River Gorge.
*Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

In West Virginia, one of the most popular climbing destinations is the New River Gorge. Advanced rock climbers continue to pioneer new climbing routes there. The first people to climb these new routes are called “first ascensionists.” And they get the privilege of naming the routes. But what happens when dozens of those route names are plainly and clearly offensive?

In 2020 and 2021, Zack Harold followed the story of a climber at the New River Gorge who wanted to make the sport he loved more inclusive for his son.

Crafting A Classic Paddle

Jon Rugh with his wooden paddle at the New River near Blacksburg, VA.
*Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachia has several huge rivers — the New River, the Youghiogheny, the Pigeon — so, it’s no surprise whitewater paddling is popular across the region, but it wasn’t all that long ago that modern paddlers first started exploring these rivers, designing their own gear and even building their own paddles. Some of those DIY paddle makers became master crafters.

Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett followed one.

------

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sturgeon Creek, Anthony Vega, Oakfield, the Delorian, Biba Dupont, Marissa Anderson, Tyler Childers, Jerry Douglas and John Blissard.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

*Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.*

Balancing The State Budget And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning Apr 04, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, the 2025 legislative session is winding down, and both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature are working to pass a balanced state budget. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with House Finance Chair Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, and House Finance Minority Chair Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, to discuss the House's proposed budget.

Plus, for this week's premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage we hear sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell — known together as Larkin Poe — perform “Mockingbird” from their new album Bloom. Their performance on a West Virginia University stage brings us our Song of the Week.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Delegates Discuss House Version Of State Budget Apr 03, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the one thing the West Virginia Legislature is required to do during its 60-day session is pass a balanced budget. Each year, the governor will offer his own budget, and then the chambers take turns preparing the draft budget. This year, it's up to the House of Delegates to put together a budget package. Once it passes the House, it will go onto the Senate for further revision.

News Director Eric Douglas talks with House Finance Chairman Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, and Minority Chair of House Finance Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, about the House budget.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_YsG_Kp7Jk

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

**Us & Them: Daniel Johnston — The Troubled Life And Artistic Genius Of West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame Inductee** Apr 03, 2025
Daniel Johnston, a visual artist and singer-songwriter who was a key figure in the indie music scene in the1980s, will soon be inducted in the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

Johnston’s high, wobbly vocals, uneven tempos, and percussive piano playing are unpolished and raw, earning him a label as an “outsider artist.” He recorded his best-known songs alone on cassette in his parents’ basement in Hancock County. Those tapes earned him a cult following in the burgeoning live music scene in Austin, Texas. Songwriters saw past the lo-fi production values of Johnston’s cassettes to the lyrics and structure of his songs. More widely known musicians like Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain championed his work.

Johnston was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his 20s, and as his fame grew, his mental health struggles increased. He died in 2019 at age 58, leaving hundreds of songs and drawings.

In this episode of *Us & Them,* host Trey Kay talks with family members, musicians and others about Daniel’s life and legacy.

This episode of *Us & Them* is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to *Us & Them* on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Hear the podcast episode.

**Daniel Johnston** is among the 2025 inductees to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Johnston burst onto the '80s indie scene with wobbly vocals and homemade cassettes that quickly earned him a devoted following.
*Photo Credit: J McConnico*

The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization in Charleston, dedicated to documenting and preserving the lasting contributions West Virginians have made to all genres of music. Its mission is to recognize the many influential musicians who have shaped the American musical spectrum—from country, classical and jazz to rock, R&B, gospel and traditional—and eventually establish a permanent facility to house a museum for recordings and memorabilia. For now, the Hall of Fame is headquartered in the Charleston Town Center Mall. Some of the notable inductees are: Bill Withers, Billy Edd Wheeler, George Crumb, Hazel Dickens, Red Sovine, Kathy Mattea, Tim O'Brien, Little Jimmy Dickens, Fred "Sonic" Smith and Barbara Nissman.
*Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

**Daniel Johnston** was born in Sacramento, California, in 1961, the youngest of Mabel and Bill Johnston’s five children. A few years later, the family moved to Bill’s home state of West Virginia, settling near Chester in the northern panhandle—where this photo was taken on Jan. 1, 1969, when Daniel was eight years old.
Family members say that as a kid, all Daniel wanted to do was draw cartoon figures and record songs. He dropped out of college twice, struggled to keep a job and often spent his paycheck on comic books.
His drawings range from simple black-and-white sketches to brightly colored depictions of imaginary beings and superheroes. His songs center on unrequited love, loneliness, the struggle between good and evil, and his battles with mental illness.
When Johnston was in his 20s, he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. His career was often interrupted by lengthy stays in psychiatric units.
*Photo Credit: Bill and Mabel Johnston Slide Collection*

Shelly Reed and Trey Kay standing in front of “The World’s Largest Teapot” in Chester, WV.
*Photo Credit: Amy Eddings*

**Shelly Reed** is Daniel Johnston’s cousin. She grew up in Chester, and still lives there today. Reed says Chester is known for two things: Daniel Johnston and the “World’s Largest Teapot,” a tourist attraction since 1938. Johnston, famous for his music and his visual art, created much of that art while growing up near Chester. But many landmarks of his presence—including his childhood home and murals he painted at the high school—are gone.

“People in town… I don’t know, they even erased his stuff. He drew a picture of a bear and other things at the high school. I’m sure they wish they had it now, because he became so famous. But they colored over it, painted over it. Have you seen his yearbook? He drew a lot of pictures in it. He was always drawing pictures—always… After he died, my daughter and I stayed at their house for two weeks because they were overwhelmed with selling all the things people wanted after he passed away. I was in shock. I thought, ‘I cannot believe people are paying anywhere from $100 to $800.’ It’s just kind of crazy that I’m related to him… You know, he was just a kid from Chester, West Virginia, who liked playing the piano, writing down every thought in his head and drawing every picture that came to mind—and here he is, famous.”

— ***Shelly Reed,*** *Daniel Johnston’s cousin*

**Daniel Johnston** recorded many of his songs on a $59 Sanyo boombox in the basement of his family’s Hancock County home. The early 1980s were an especially creative time for him; he compiled those songs into self-produced cassette albums and gave them to anyone who would listen.
*Courtesy Photo*

Shelly Reed, left, and Trey Kay look at a vinyl record of Daniel Johnston’s “Hi, How Are You” album, which was originally self-produced on cassette.
*Photo Credit: Amy Eddings*

**Daniel Johnston’s** most famous self-produced album was “Hi, How Are You?” It gained worldwide recognition among musicians, including Sonic Youth, Beck, Yo La Tengo, Pearl Jam and Wilco. The lo-fi cassette featured one of Johnston’s most recognizable characters on the cover, a googly-eyed frog-like alien Johnston named Jeremiah the Innocent. The late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain made the frog image iconic when he wore a T-shirt featuring it to the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Here, Johnston’s cousin Shelly Reed shows “Us & Them” host Trey Kay a vinyl copy of “Hi, How Are You?” at her home in Chester.

Irwin Chusid
*Photo Credit: Flash Rosenberg*

**Irwin Chusid** is a music historian and journalist who has been a free-form DJ at WFMU in New Jersey for more than 50 years. He frequently featured Daniel Johnston’s music on his shows. Chusid coined the term “outsider artist,” and he considers Johnston’s work to be in that category.

Chusid first discovered lo-fi music when a friend played him “Philosophy of the World,” the 1969 album by the three-sister group The Shaggs. His ensuing fascination with outsider music led him to write “Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music,” which includes Johnston. Chusid said Johnston is in a league of his own.

“[Daniel Johnston] has pop appeal and a huge body of work—songs people can cover or sing. Anyone can listen and hear a hook, a melody, a verse, a chorus, or something unusual in the lyrics. They can hear Daniel’s soul in that music. And that applies to every—can I use this word?—‘great’ outsider musician: They’re expressing their soul.”

— ***Irwin Chusid,*** *music historian and journalist.*

Mabel, Bill and Daniel Johnston.
*Photo courtesy of Hi How Are You Foundation*

Family members describe Daniel as someone who wanted to draw and play music all the time. Daniel’s mother Mabel told filmmaker Jeff Feurzeig in his award-winning 2005 documentary, “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” that “he didn't want to do any of his chores like help mow the lawn or wash the car or any of those things.” She added that she had to “settle that.” Daniel recorded arguments with her on his cassette player and sometimes used them in songs like “Brainwash” and “Mabel’s Grievances.” He also made films spoofing her. Dick Johnston said they were brought up in a Christian home, and his mother objected to some of Daniel’s antics.

"The earliest dispute that arose about what he was doing had more to do with his art than his music, maybe. He was drawing these dead dogs' eyeballs. And you could find these things all over the county for the longest time because he and his friends were putting them everywhere. And mother thought that was distasteful. I've never heard them comment on the songs except to say that they are very good and that they thought that they were a little on the depressing side."

— ***Dick Johnston****, only brother and former manager of Daniel Johnston and the manager of his estate.*

Young Daniel Johnston playing piano at his family's home near Chester, WV. Bill Johnston said everyone got musical training.
*Photo Credit: Bill and Mabel Johnston*

Listen to Daniel Johnston’s song “Walking The Cow.”Watch Daniel Johnston’s perform “I Live My Broken Dreams” in Austin, TX on MTV in 1985.

Daniel Johnston and musician and artist Kathy McCarty in July 1985. When they met, McCarty was living in Austin, TX and fronting the band Glass Eye.
*Photo Credit: Dick Johnston*

In 1983, Dick invited Daniel to spend the summer at his home near Houston, thinking that would help Daniel get on his feet. Dick said Daniel got a job at AstroWorld. But a few months later, Daniel moved in with a sister in San Marcos, south of Austin. Soon after, Daniel disappeared and skipped town with a traveling carnival. Dick said Daniel thought family members were going to put him in a psychiatric hospital because of his bipolar disorder.

Five months later, the carnival stopped in Austin and Daniel chose to stay. He got a job at a McDonald’s and passed out his homemade cassettes to anyone who showed an interest.

He gave a cassette to Austin-based musician and singer-songwriter Kathy McCarty, whose band, Glass Eye, was a favorite in Austin’s growing live music scene. McCarty said she got a lot of cassettes from people seeking to open for them.

“This weird guy came up to me and gave me a cassette tape. He was clearly dying of nervous energy—he could barely bring himself to talk to me. I took his cassette and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll listen to it.’ It was ‘Hi, How Are You?’ I listened to about two songs and thought, ‘My God, this guy’s a genius.’ We didn’t even practice that day; all we did was listen to his tape over and over. I think we scheduled half an hour for him to play six or seven songs. He rushed through three, then ran off stage. He went to the bathroom, climbed out the window and took off.”

— ***Kathy McCarty****, musician and visual artist*

*Courtesy Photo*

Daniel’s local popularity led to his appearance on an episode of “The Cutting Edge” on the popular music video cable station MTV in the summer of 1985. By that fall, McCarty said Johnston suffered a psychotic episode in which he violently attacked his manager after which he spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Austin. His father, a former WWII pilot, flew to Austin to take Daniel back to West Virginia after another psychotic break. His mental health continued to deteriorate. During a trip to New York City to record his first studio album, “1990,” he assaulted another musician and was briefly hospitalized. Following a recording trip to Maryland, Daniel got into an altercation with a woman in Chester who ended up jumping out of the window of her second-story apartment to escape Daniel after he kicked down the front door. He told a judge he was trying to save the woman from a demon. The judge sent him to a psychiatric hospital in Weston, WV, where he stayed for some time before he was released into the custody of his parents. Daniel would spend a total of five years in mental health institutions over the course of his lifetime.

*“Dave, here I am on MTV holding up my tape, ‘Hi How Are You,’ and they're recording me tonight, I'm on MTV. Remember when we used to watch MTV back home? Look, I'm on MTV, David.”*

– ***Daniel Johnston****, speaking on an MTV promo for “The Cutting Edge”*

*Courtesy Photo*

**Kathy McCarty** began working on “Dead Dog’s Eyeball: Songs of Daniel Johnston” after Daniel was hospitalized in Weston. She said she recorded his songs so people could hear the music in a more relatable way. She accomplished that goal: The album was well-received, and one track, “Living Life,” appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 romantic drama “Before Sunrise,” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

“Oftentimes people used to ask me in interviews, do you think that his mental illness is like, what makes him such a great songwriter? And I'd be like, ‘no, if he had not been mentally ill, it would have been much better.’ His mental illness - it stood in his way.”

— ***Kathy McCarty***

Jeff Tweedy
*Photo Credit: Pitch Perfect PR*

Daniel continued to record, often collaborating with other musicians. His eighteenth and final album was issued in 2012 but his most enduring work was the material from the 1980s, much of it from West Virginia.

His dad, and later, his brother Dick, managed him. They toured with him, booking local artists to accompany him. Daniel eventually stopped playing guitar or piano because of tremors from the medications he took.

In 2017, Daniel announced he would reture from performing. He did a final, five-date tour. Each stop featured a different band influenced by his music.

**Jeff Tweedy**, the frontman of Wilco, and his son backed up Daniel at the Old Vic in Chicago. A video of the concert shows Daniel sitting in a chair, reading his lyrics off a music stand. Both hands grip the microphone to steady his shaking body.

Watch Daniel Johnston perform with Jeff Tweedy and his son at the Old Vic in Chicago in 2017.

Tweedy will induct Daniel Johnston into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and perform at the ceremony. He said it’s a great honor.

If it was up to me he'd be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or he'd be in every state's Hall of Fame. I don't know, I just think that you know I think that there are a lot of good reasons to keep his music alive and keep a focus on the art that he made.

— ***Jeff Tweedy****, of the band Wilco*

Daniel Johnston performing with B.E.A.M. Orchestra during a European tour in 2010.
*Courtesy Photo*

**Daniel Johnston** performed outside the U.S. at venues in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. In 2010, he toured Europe with the B.E.A.M. Orchestra, an 11-piece outfit from Holland. Live recordings from that tour are on Daniel’s 2010 album “Beam Me Up!”

Dick Johnston, left, with Daniel Johnston in Austin, TX.
*Photo courtesy of the Hi How Are You Foundation*

Dick Johnston manages Daniel’s estate. He said proceeds from the sales of Daniel’s drawings and other merchandise pay for the upkeep of his voluminous archives and legacy-building projects.Dick said he’d like to develop a cable or television series based on Daniel’s life.

Daniel’s visual art is also in the spotlight. The art publisher Rizzoli will soon release “*Daniel Johnston*,” a 400-page book spanning four decades of Johnston’s work.

Daniel is also remembered through the Hi, How Are You Foundation, a non-profit co-founded by Tom Gimbel, who managed Daniel in the 1990s. The foundation’s “*Hi, How Are You Project*” educates young people worldwide about mental health through community-building events.

For a kid who started out making cassette tapes in his family’s basement, that’s quite a legacy.

“OK, even if you don’t like outsider music, you’re missing something in the human experience if you’re not listening to Daniel Johnston. He’s a deeply philosophical commentator on the world, society, life and our experience, and I think he has valuable things to offer. It’s something that shouldn’t be missed.”

— ***Dick Johnston***

On Sept. 11, 2019, **Daniel Johnston** was found dead in his home in Waller, Texas. He was 58 and died of an apparent heart attack.
*Photo Credit: Peter Juhl*

This mural tribute to Daniel Johnston is in Houston, TX. It was unveiled on Hi, How Are You Day, a celebration of Johnston held every year on his birthday, on Jan. 22, 2020. The mural was created by muralist Anat Ronan and artist Jacob Calle.
*Photo Credit: Jacob Calle*

Legislation Targets Homelessness And W.Va. Indie Singer Enters Hall Of Fame, This West Virginia Morning Apr 03, 2025

On this West Virginia Morning, several cities across West Virginia have implemented camping bans designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping on park benches, in doorways and other public spaces.

A so-called camping ban is making its way through the legislature that would have impacts statewide. Assistant News Director Maria Young sat down with someone very familiar with Margaret O’Neal, president of United Way of Central West Virginia, to get her reaction to House Bill 2382.

Daniel Johnston is one of a handful of artists who will soon be inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. The singer-songwriter grew up in West Virginia and came onto the indie music scene in the 1980s.

In the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay learns about Johnston’s legacy which was partly shaped by his challenges with mental illness. We'll here an excerpt in today's episode.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Discussion On The Statewide Camping Ban Legislation Apr 02, 2025

On this episode of The Legislature Today, several cities across West Virginia have implemented camping bans designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping on park benches, in doorways and other public spaces. A bill to ban so-called camping statewide is making its way through the legislature. Assistant News Director Maria Young talks with Margaret O’Neal, president of United Way of Central West Virginia, who is familiar with the state’s unhoused population.

A bill to establish a forest carbon registry was defeated in the Senate. Emily Rice has more.

The House discussed a list of bills Wednesday, including a bill that would exempt the legislature from sharing information that is currently accessible to the public through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Briana Heaney brings us this story.

And following up on Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order, a bill to codify the elimination of certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) has passed the Senate and is now in the House Education Committee. As Randy Yohe shows us, while Senate Bill 474 pinpoints the executive branch and schools, some state entities receiving state funding are still wondering where they fit under the new policy.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEbIoPTHNuo

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

podcast Story Archives – West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home

Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene

Remembering Travis Stimeling

Surfing The Gauley River

Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night

Scopes Trial: A Century Later

Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health

Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom

Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot

Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail

Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes

Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.

Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration

Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors

In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor

Updates In Shape Note Singing

Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library

Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner

Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears

The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban

Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy

Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language

Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers

Turning Cicadas Into Art

What To Do “If Lost”

Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming

Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"

Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp

Hip-Hop History In W.Va.

Generations Of Black Poets Live On Through Tazwell, Virginia Family

Torli Bush’s Book, Requiem for a Redbird

Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation

A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood

A Bicentennial Celebration In Fleming County, Kentucky

Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler

The Appalachian Prison Book Project

Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs

Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain

Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia

The Kingdom Of Happy Land

Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird"

The West Virginian Egg Church

Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs

The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents

Ballads About Train Wrecks Holds Lessons For Modern Life

Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media

Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties

A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison

Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts

Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March

Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art

United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career

Fun With Foraging For Fungi

Appalachian Forager Found On TikTok

The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And West Virginia

Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods

Join us Saturday, April 12 for our Final Hours program as we follow along with legislative action from 8 p.m. to midnight.

A Coal Ash Spill And A Labor Justice Fight

Crafter Turns Climbing Gear Into Cozy Crafts

The Modern Mountain Cookbook

Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing

Removing Racist Language From Rock Climbing

Crafting A Classic Paddle

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6