Maximumrocknroll Uncovers Appalachia's Extreme Music Scene
Tennessee DJ Cary Allen at his studio. Photo courtesy of Cary Allen
Appalachia is known for its distinctive music. It’s home to thriving punk, metal, indie and hardcore scenes. Now, the world is getting a chance to check out Appalachia’s extreme music scene, thanks to Maximumrocknroll. Maximumrocknroll was a zine that ran from 1982 to 2019. It first started as a radio show in California though. Now it’s a podcast. Since October, Johnson City, Tennessee, DJ Cary Allen has been part of the show and spotlighting Appalachian bands. Host Mason Adams spoke with Allen.
Cary Allen is a DJ on Maximumrocknroll Radio. He also plays garage rock and gospel on his Fuzzkill and Righteous Fuzz radio shows in the Johnson City area. The bands we heard in that segment were L.I.P.S., Coffin Smoke, Nerve Endings, Ex-Parents, Warmones, Wyndrider and Buzz-Hound. You can find Maximumrocknroll Radio wherever you get podcasts.
Japanese Homestyle Haven In Morgantown
Staff member Ryoko Kijimoto serves up rich rice bowls and ramen in Yama’s diner atmosphere. Photo courtesy of Min Kim
Just about every college town has its go to block or neighborhood for restaurants and bars. In Morgantown, the home of West Virginia University (WVU), that’s High Street. And tucked off the main drag is Yama, a cozy diner that’s been serving up homestyle Japanese food since the 1990s. Japanese students and staff go there to share language, culture and food. It’s also a place of comfort and connection for the larger community.
In 2023, Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin brought us this story.
Federal Cuts Impacting Mammoth Cave National Park
Graffiti found inside Mammoth Cave in March 2025. Photo Credit: Derek Parham/WKU
Since January, the Trump administration has fired or laid off nearly one out of four staffers in the National Park Service. Republicans in Congress are now proposing even more cuts.
WKYU’s Derek Parham reports that visitors around the country are feeling the effects, including at parks like Mammoth Cave and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Using The Internet To Connect With Extended Family
Mark Miner runs Minerd.com, which details the history of his family. He is holding one of his many family photo albums. Photo Credit: Kate Giammarise/WESA
A growing loneliness epidemic has gripped the country. People struggle to make connections with other people, and sometimes even within their own families. Some experts blame the internet, especially social media. But a Pennsylvania man is using the internet to connect with his extended family – and they number in the thousands.
WESA’s Kate Giammarise has the story.
A Sharper Silence Explores Grief, Nature and Hurricane Helene
The cover of A Sharper Silence. Photo courtesy of Michael Hettich/Terrapin Books
Seven years ago, poet Michael Hettich landed in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Since moving there, Hettich has published four books of poetry, including his latest, A Sharper Silence. The book explores nature, touches on Hurricane Helene and speaks of his relationship with his wife, Colleen, who died in January of lung cancer.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hettich about the collection.
Journalist Documents Experience Of Trans Youth In American Teenager
Nico Lang is the author of American Teenager, a new book that explores the lives of transgender teenagers living across the United States. Photo courtesy of Christian Rogers
Nico Lang is a non-binary, award-winning journalist who has spent over a decade covering the transgender community. Their work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Lang’s latest book, American Teenager, chronicles the daily lives of eight transgender teens across the U.S., including one in West Virginia.
WVPB’s Jack Walker spoke with Lang and brings us this.
Appalachian String Band Music Festival In W.Va.
The Jack Wilson Terrier Band playing at the 2025 Appalachian String Music Festival. Photo Credit: Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Summer is high time for string band music. And since 1990, mountaineers have gathered in Clifftop, West Virginia for the Appalachian String Band Festival. The festival attracts thousands of old-time music fans from around the world. And if you know much about old-time, you know most folks who journey there don’t show up just to listen, but to play and dance.
WVPB’s Randy Yohe went out for a visit and brought us this.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ron Mullennex, L.I.P.S., Coffin Smoke, Nerve Endings, Ex-Parents, Warmones, Wyndrider, Buzz-Hound, Erik Vincent Huey, Paul Loomis, Mary Hott, Blue Dot Sessions and John Blissard.
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.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Microgrid Construction To Begin And Impacts Of Natural Gas Pipeline, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 21, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, despite heavy public opposition, the state Department of Environmental Protection has approved air quality and construction permits for an energy microgrid between the towns of Davis and Thomas in Canaan Valley. Leaders of a grassroots protest say regulators are siding with industry over community.
And, a six-year battle to prevent construction of a natural gas pipeline was lost. So now conservationists are monitoring the environmental impact of the project that cuts through a protected wildlife corridor.
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 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
After A Coal Firm’s Bankruptcy And Celebrating Success Against The Odds, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 20, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, what happens when a bankrupt coal company can’t find a buyer? South Fork Coal – which had operations that were contested by numerous conservation groups – has idled its operations and furloughed its remaining employees. Curtis Tate reports on what happens next.
And, a little-known piece of Harpers Ferry’s storied history is getting some attention. That’s thanks to a new book that shines a spotlight on a pair of African American newlyweds who managed to do something few other Black people of their time could do: open and run a successful restaurant and inn. Jack Walker takes a look at the Lovett family and their years of success in the midst of the Jim Crow era.
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 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Grappling With A Decades-Old Water Problem, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 19, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, some regions have waited more than 30 years for municipal systems to deliver clean drinking water. Meanwhile, they rely on faith communities bringing bottled water. From the tiny town of Anawalt, Wendy Welch attended a water distribution day and brings us this story.
And a lawsuit seeking to halt exemptions to school vaccine requirements has been refiled in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
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 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Recovery From February Flood Still Slow In Southern Counties, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 18, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, flooding swept through Central Appalachia in February, killing at least 27 people across Kentucky and West Virginia. Six months after the flood, federal and state assistance has been slow to come to the region.
And West Virginia National Guard troops will soon be deploying in Washington, D.C. and protestors plan to send a grim reminder to Sen. Jim Justice.
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 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Flatfoot Dancing, Geocaching And A Coal Mine Rescue Competition, This West Virginia Week
Aug 16, 2025
On this West Virginia Week, some folks can't help but dance when they hear traditional old-time fiddle and banjo tunes. We hear from a few seasoned flatfooters about keeping their tradition alive.
Also, in this episode, we will dive deeper into the challenges surrounding the implementation of a new law banning food dyes in schools.
Plus, we'll hear about a rescue competition for coal miners, as well as a hobby called geocaching that is shaping tourism in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
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, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.
Sheila McEntee, author of Soul Friend: And Other Love Notes to the Natural World. Photo courtesy of Sheila McEntee
Writer Sheila McEntee has been observing nature for most of her life, especially birds. She’s published essays about her experiences in Stonecrop Review, Woods Reader and Wonderful West Virginia magazine. Several of these essays have been collected for McEntee’s first book. It’s titled, Soul Friend: And Other Love Notes to the Natural World.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with McEntee about writing and developing an interest in nature.
Rare Butterflies In The Blue Ridge Mountains
Derek Hennen, a field zoologist with Natural Heritage Program. Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQ
Summer is a great time to spy butterflies in your backyard or in meadows across the region. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining. The Mitchell’s Satyr butterfly is federally listed as endangered. Scientists are working to preserve the few meadows where these elusive butterflies still exist.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd tagged along with a surveyor in Floyd County, Virginia to learn more.
Wood Fired Pottery In Western North Carolina
Pottery stacked in the wood kiln, before and after firing. The pots sit on small balls of clay, called wads, to prevent them from sticking to the kiln. Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily Yonder
Technology has taken some of the work out of firing pottery. A lot of potters use sophisticated kilns that can be fired by just one person. Some don’t even require human supervision – just punch in your settings, add your pottery and come back later. But other older methods still exist. These take work – and help, which is part of the point.
Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan from the Rural Remix Podcast brings us this story from western North Carolina.
Rural Transformation Fund Impact In W.Va.
The Republican budget bill passed by Congress in June includes cuts to Medicaid funding. The changes shift some health care costs from the federal to state governments. That will mean a loss of coverage for vulnerable populations. It also means some rural hospitals may have to close.
As part of the bill, Congress added $50 billion to the Rural Transformation Fund, to help offset those cuts. Rich Sutphin is executive director of the West Virginia Rural Health Association.
WVPB’s Maria Young spoke with Sutphin about the changes.
Public Opposition Mounts Against Trump's Plan For Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is leaning in on fossil fuels. Not only is it considering delaying the retirement of four coal-fired power plants, it’s considering building several new gas-fired plants.
But the TVA is facing community opposition to some of those plans — even from a prominent country star.
Now, in this moment of scrutiny, President Donald Trump could radically change the nation’s oldest and largest public utility.
WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports.
Amythyst Kiah’s Album, Still + Bright
Amythyst Kiah, whose new album is Still + Bright. Photo courtesy of Kevin & King
“Play God and Destroy the World” is the opening track from Still + Bright by singer and songwriter Amythyst Kiah. The album follows 2021’s Wary + Strange, and features guest spots by S.G. Goodman, Billy Strings and others. Amythyst Kiah spoke with Inside Appalachia from her home in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Amythyst Kiah is touring through the fall. In mid-August, she’ll appear on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage. You can catch the broadcast in September. Check the Mountain Stagewebsite for details.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Paul Loomis, Gery Milnes, Hello June, Mary Hott and Amythyst Kiah.
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.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Writing About Nature And Birds And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 15, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia writer Sheila McEntee has been observing nature for most of her life, especially birds. For Inside Appalachia, Bill Lynch spoke with McEntee about her first book, a collection of essays about nature titled “Soul Friend: And Other Love Notes to the Natural World.”
And our Song of the Week is renowned singer and songwriter Rodney Crowell’s performance of “Weight of the World,” from his album, "Triage."
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
Geocaching In The Eastern Panhandle And Keeping Local News Alive, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 14, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, geocaching, has become a cult phenomenon in outdoor recreation. One of the most renowned geocachers lives in West Virginia. He met up with reporter Jack Walker to discuss what’s unusual about his geocaches, and how they’ve shaped local tourism.
And every week more than two U.S. newspapers go out of business. But some publications continue to provide an essential source of local news. On the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with the father - daughter team Ron and Betsy Allen who put out the Hurricane Breeze.
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
Us & Them: West Virginia’s News Deserts — With No Government Watchdog Civic Engagement Plummets
Aug 14, 2025
Every week across the U.S., more than two newspapers go out of business. In the past two decades, more than 3,000 papers have shut down operations. That’s left more than 1,500 counties as so-called news deserts.
Forty-three of West Virginia’s 55 counties have just one local news source and that limited access gives the state a ranking of 46th out of all 50 states. Studies show when local news sources vanish, the result is a drop in community participation on many levels.
On the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits some regional news deserts to talk about the way local news organizations help a community see and define itself. Some say local coverage is the glue that brings a place together, and in Putnam County, The Hurricane Breeze continues to offer essential local news while in Greenbrier County, a startup is working to bring back that voice.
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.
Tim Franklin is the senior associate dean at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He also directs the Medill Local News Initiative, a project that gauges the health of local journalism in America. The initiative tackles a big problem with an equally big mission: measuring what happens when local news dies. Photo courtesy of Jenna Braunstein
“I think local news organizations are the glue that binds together a community. It’s where people in a community go to see themselves and go to see their community, and the people who live there... And so when you lose that original local news reporting and coverage, I think it contributes to this disconnectedness... Civic participation declines. Turnout in local elections goes down. The number of candidates running for local office goes down... In some cases, government spending rises and government borrowing costs also go up, this is according to a study done by Notre Dame and the University of Illinois-Chicago, because the bond rating agencies look at the fact there’s no watchdog, there’s no journalist in that community covering government officials and so the fear is that government spending is just going to rise further.”
— Tim Franklin, Director of the Local News Initiative atNorthwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
The Hurricane Breeze has been serving the community of Hurricane, West Virginia, since around 1900 — that makes it one of the town’s oldest continuous institutions. This weekly paper has provided a trusted source for local news, events and history, helping keep the community informed and connected. Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Betsy Allen, left, and Ron Allen, right, are the father-daughter team that produces The Hurricane Breeze newspaper. Ron married into the family that has owned the Breeze since 1913 and became owner in the early 1970s. Betsy grew up watching her father and late mother produce the paper and began helping with the operation as a teenager. Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“I’m 82, going on 83 and I don’t believe that there’s anyone that’s going to step in and do what I continue to do.”
—Ron Allen, owner and publisher of The Hurricane Breeze
“I’d definitely like to see the family legacy continue. The paper has been part of my family since 1913. But there’s too much work for one person to do... In fact, there’s too much work for two people to do, but we make it happen.”
— Betsy Allen, producer of TheHurricane Breeze
Ron and Betsy Allen produce The Hurricane Breeze from their rural home outside the main part of Hurricane, W.Va. Just beyond the doorway where they put together the local newspaper is a large chicken coop and a pasture where cattle graze.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Randy Yohe is the Huntington bureau chief for West Virginia Public Broadcasting and an adjunct professor of broadcast journalism at Marshall University. Before joining WVPB, he was a frequent and lively presence on WSAZ-TV (Huntington/Charleston). Photo courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting
"Local news is important because it talks about what’s happening in your community, in your backyard. If you’re commuting from Huntington to Charleston, what’s going on, on I-64... that’s going to bog you down or hold you up, besides construction and accidents... There’s a wide spread of counties that WSAZ’s signal goes to — much of western West Virginia, about 10 counties in southern Ohio and about 10 counties in eastern Kentucky. I was the reporter that would often go to the ends of the earth, if you will, because I could get the story and get back quick for the four, five and six o’clock news."
— Randy Yohe, Huntington bureau chief for West Virginia Public Broadcasting News and former on-air reporter for WSAZ-NewsChannel 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvVftavQTSQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fsca_esv%3Db510d2a75869389b%26udm%3D7%26q%3DYoutube%2BRandy%2BYohe%2Breel%26sa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwi0_9zfnIiPAxWLGFkFHU6rJvs&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE
Stephen Baldwin is a Presbyterian minister in Ronceverte, W.Va., and a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate. After losing his reelection bid in 2022, Baldwin found himself with time on his hands and launched The Real West Virginia, a rural online news publication. He has funded the start-up costs out of his own pocket and has yet to take a paycheck, relying on his pastoral work to cover his expenses. Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“Being a state senator representing 100,000 people in addition to having church ministry is a couple of full-time jobs...
Then suddenly I only had one full-time job. I’m used to doing a lot more than that... The thing that I liked most about public service was telling stories, sharing West Virginia’s story, making sure folks knew what was going on because I was representing six counties, 100,000 people, and every day I was traveling those six counties and so many people didn’t know what was going on one mountain over...
Somebody can read [The Real West Virginia] and one time they might think, oh, well, this is from a Democratic perspective, or another time they’re not going to be sure. We like that because we think that is authentic to West Virginians... We’ve had this shift toward Republican politics away from Democratic politics. But West Virginians have always been pretty partisan one way or another. We don’t think that’s necessarily representative of the way West Virginians operate. So we would like to operate as an outlet that folks aren’t sure from day to day, article to article, what the perspective is.”
— Stephen Baldwin, owner and publisher of The Real West Virginia.
A Celebration of Flatfoot Dancing And Preserving A Camp For Future Scouts, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 13, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s annual Appalachian String Band Music Festival is not just about old-time fiddle and banjo music. Randy Yohe spoke with a few seasoned flatfooters about a dance step that’s been shuffling through our hills and hollows since this land was first settled.
And when a century-old scout camp near Parkersburg came up for sale earlier this year, a group of supporters got together to try buying the place. As Maria Young reports, they wanted to preserve the camp for future generations and ensure that the natural grounds and sandstone caves weren’t paved over.
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
Staffing Cuts At National Parks And Rising Energy Demands Drive Up Prices, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 12, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, the Trump administration has cut staff by more than 24 percent at the National Park Service since January, and Republicans in Congress are proposing more. From the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Derek Parham of WKYU reports that visitors are feeling the impacts nationwide - and at home, in parks like Mammoth Cave and Great Smoky Mountains.
And the latest from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region, is about the demand for energy and the rising costs within the PJM electrical grid that West Virginia is a part of.
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
Food Dyes Out Of School Food And A Mine Rescue Competition, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 11, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, lots of parents have struggled to get their kids to eat healthy food. So imagine the task facing school nutritionists across West Virginia, who are now charged with serving foods that don’t contain the colorful synthetic dyes that can appeal to kids. As Maria Young reports, a new law has forced those experts to learn some important lessons.
Also, Curtis Tate brings us the story of coal miners from West Virginia and surrounding states that met in Morgantown last month to compete in a rescue competition.
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
Screening For Black Lung And The State Fair Kicks Off, This West Virginia Week
Aug 09, 2025
On this West Virginia Week, screening for black lung disease is back on – after a pause. Also, Bernie Sanders brings his Fighting Oligarcy Tour to West Virginia. The West Virginia State Fair celebrates its 100th season – we’ll meet a man who’s played a part in most of them. And, some old-time music for you – with a distinctly West Virginia sound.
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.
The cover of Islands in the Sky, the first book from the Appalachia Comics Project. Photo courtesy of the Appalachia Comics Project
When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in 2024, it knocked out internet and cell service. That created an information gap that was quickly filled by conspiracy theories and misinformation. Now, a new project looks to tell the truth of the disaster. Islands in the Sky is a forthcoming comics anthology about the storm and its aftermath. The book will feature stories told by survivors in partnership with comics professionals.
Islands in the Sky was conceived by North Carolina comics writer Andrew Aydin. Host Mason Adams spoke with Aydin about the project.
Rebuilding Veteran Shelters In Asheville, N.C.
The Veterans Restoration Quarters in Asheville. Photo Credit: Laura Hackett/Blue Ridge Public Radio
Communities in Western North Carolina are still working through damage from Hurricane Helene. Before the storm, the Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry ran a transitional shelter in East Asheville for about 180 homeless veterans. Then Helene and the flooding that came with it destroyed the property, forcing veterans into a motel across the street.
Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Lauren Hackett reports that it will be a long time before the shelter makes a comeback.
Next Generation Of Cherokee Potters
Levi West displays his maker’s signature on the bottom of his prize-winning pot. West is helping to develop a community art space for pottery and other traditional crafts. Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily Yonder
Cherokee people have been making pottery in the mountains of western North Carolina for nearly 3,000 years. Today, relatively few Cherokee potters carry on the art form. Thanks to a community-led pottery workshop, a new generation is emerging.
Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has the story from the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies.
Native Bees In Kentucky
Researchers with the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves survey a grasslands preserve south of Elizabethtown for native been species. Photo Credit: Sylvia Goodman/Kentucky Public Radio
Everyone’s heard of honeybees. But there are hundreds of bee species native to the region.
Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman tagged along with researchers to understand which bees are still out pollinating.
Kids Still Spend Time In Nature At Summer Camps
Campers at the Junior Ranger Summer Camp at New River State Park. Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQ
Kids still spend a lot of time outside in the summer months. Warmer temps and longer days mean more time at swimming holes and playing in the woods. And scientists say, giving kids space to explore in nature is important for their development and mental health.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd recently visited one summer camp in Southwest Virginia, to hear how kids feel about spending time in nature.
Marbles Still Roll At Recess
Grayson Casto shows off his favorite marbles. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Hang out with kids for very long at all, and you realize some playground games never go out of style – hide and seek, tag and Duck, Duck Goose. Kids today still play those classics. And every spring, the students of one elementary school in Boone County, West Virginia, still get excited for a game that’s more than 100 years old. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold has the story.
Zack also made a video about marbles. It’s part of the Inside Appalachia Folkways television special that first aired last Thanksgiving on West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The show recently won a 2024 Ohio Valley Emmy Award.
Blue Ribbon-Winning Fair Food
It’s summer fair season. A staple of county and state fairs is the annual craft competition, where everyone from 4-H kids to the local dentist brings their finest quilts and peanut butter fudge to be judged for cash and prizes.
The prizes are usually pretty modest, but local bragging rights are at stake — as well as the highly coveted blue ribbon.
Few have been as successful as Linda Skeens. The Russell County, Virginia resident has won hundreds of ribbons — which made her a social media sensation and got her featured in the New York Times.
In 2023, Skeens released a cookbook featuring her winning recipes, plus poems, pictures and a peek into her life in southwestern Virginia.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Skeens about the book.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Paul Loomis, Blue Dot Sessions 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.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The Appalachian Comics Project And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 08, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, an award-winning comic book writer uses his talents to bring authenticity to stories about Appalachia. After he and his dog survived Hurricane Helene almost a year ago, Andrew Aydin started the Appalachian Comics Project.
And, our Song of the Week this week features “Planetarium,” by Blitzen Trapper, an indie rock and folk group from Portland, Oregon. We’ll listen in on this hit from their album, “100’s of 1000’s, Millions of Billions.”
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.
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
Welcoming A New Justice And Decades Of State Fair Memories, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 07, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, there’s a new member of the state’s Supreme Court of Appeals. Gov. Patrick Morrisey made the announcement Wednesday. Judge Tom Ewing was one of four candidates recommended by the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Committee to fill the seat after Justice Beth Walker resigned earlier this summer.
And, today marks the first of ten days of concerts, carnival rides and exhibitions as the annual State Fair of West Virginia returns to the state fairgrounds in Greenbrier County for its 100th season. Bill Lynch caught up to long-time state fair board member John Wilson who – at 81 – is something of a state fair historian.
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.
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
Solar Program Going Dark And Old-Time Music Bridges Generations, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 06, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to cancel billions of dollars in grants for a solar program intended to improve home energy efficiency. The funds – including more than $100 million in West Virginia – were meant to help low-income residents combat rising electricity costs.
And, an annual competition celebrates the strains of fiddle, banjo and guitar – and a tradition of passing a uniquely West Virginian sound to the next generation.
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.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's 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
Trains Are ‘Back On Track’ And Housing Homeless Veterans, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 05, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, a weekend derailment blocked Amtrak’s Cardinal from operating. Curtis Tate brings us details about what happened – and whether this has a lasting impact.
And, the city of Huntington is tackling its homeless problem by doing something radically different: getting those in need into housing, starting with unhoused military veterans
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.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's 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
Digging Clay For More Natural Art And Happy Birthday To The Postal Service, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 04, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, you’ll meet a couple of Appalachian potters who prefer to dig their own clay. That way, they can decide how much of the tiny pieces of natural debris to leave in for authentic texture.
And, United States Postal Service turns 250 years old this year. You might not realize how West Virginia played a critical role in its history: free, rural delivery began in Jefferson County where it proved to be widely popular with farming families and continues to this day.
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.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's 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 New Leader For W.Va. GOP And Help For Homeless Vets, This West Virginia Week
Aug 02, 2025
On this West Virginia Week, growing pains in the Eastern Panhandle and a new plan to house homeless veterans in Huntington by the end of August. Also, the head of West Virginia’s third largest university hit the road this week. We'll tell you why. And, the state is poised to pick up hundreds of thousands of federal dollars to help offset Medicaid cuts – but will it be enough to prevent rural hospital closures?
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.
Baby Cai on his dad Chuck Kleine’s chest. Photo Credit: Glynis Board/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
In June of 2020, former West Virginia Public Broadcasting videographer Chuck Kleine and Pennsylvania resident Joe Buckland recorded their experiences with having children during the pandemic.
Buckland and his wife had a baby in mid-February, nearly a month before the lockdowns.
Kleine and his wife, Glynis Board, WVPB’s assistant news director at the time, had a baby in March, about a week after most staff were sent home.
Mortgage Lifter Heirloom Tomato
Mary Lou Estler slices up her family’s heirloom mortgage lifter tomato. But there’s a mystery with this tomato. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
One of Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adam's friends hates tomatoes — but started growing them in 2020 because he “wanted to be part of it.” It being growing a garden, complete with a swath of heirloom tomatoes. Like a variety called Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter tomato. This heirloom breed got its start in Logan County, West Virginia.
A guy known as Radiator Charlie bred two varieties of tomato together to get a giant, juicy fruit. Word spread, and eventually so many people bought his $1 tomato plants that he was able to pay off his house. That’s how the “mortgage lifter” got its name.
But in 2020, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold brought us a story about another West Virginia tomato plant, also called “mortgage lifter.” And it’s even older.
The Ramp Hunter
The Ramp Hunter. Caroline Blizzard, Secret Location. Photo courtesy of Michael Snyder
A lot of big events were canceled in 2020 — high school proms, baseball games, and even family reunions — but some annual traditions would not be stopped. Like foraging for ramps.
People still went out to their favorite ramp patches in early spring. In 2020, we aired this story of a ramp-hunting expedition, led by Maryland park ranger Caroline Blizzard.
Shape-note singers in the region most often use oblong-shaped tunebooks like The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony. This singer has personalized their copy of The Sacred Harp. Photo Credit: Kelley Libby/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
One of the oldest European musical traditions in Appalachia is shape note singing. It’s also called Sacred Harp singing. It’s sung acapella, often in large groups, with singers facing each other in a square.
Social distancing made shape note singing a lot harder, but a group figured out a way to continue to sing through the pandemic. Inside Appalachia Editor Kelley Libby — then a Folkways Reporter — filed this story in 2020.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, John Inghram, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Mary Hott and the Cornelius Eady Trio.
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 Chris Julin and Caitlin Tan.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Camping Ban Leads Homeless To Hide And Matt Pond PA’s Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 01, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, since a statewide camping ban went into effect in Kentucky last year, the number of homeless people has increased. A story produced for the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom finds homeless people hide now to avoid arrest – which makes it harder to get them the services that might help.
And, this week’s Song of the Week is “Love To Get Used” by Matt Pond PA. Making his debut appearance, Matt and his band performed this bouncy song off of Spring Fools, from his eighth studio album The Dark Leaves.
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.
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
Rescinding The Rules Of Climate Change And The Benefits Of Time Outside, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 31, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to repeal the scientific findings about greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the environment. It’s a move that would affect countless regulations that govern everything from vehicles to power plants.
And, in the weeks before school starts, parents are squeezing in time for the kids to spend in nature. Young campers share how they feel about spending time outdoors – and away from electronics.
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.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's 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
Preserving Meadows For Endangered Butterflies And On The Road With FSU President, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 30, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, scientists are working to preserve the meadows that are home to the endangered Mitchell’s Satyr butterfly. One of those is not far from the borders of West Virginia. RadioIQ’s Roxy Todd ventured there to find out about efforts to save these pretty but rare winged insects.
And, with the fall semester looming at campuses from preschool to college, the president of Fairmont State University is on a road trip. Mike Davis is traveling from county to county in a camper van across West Virginia this week to talk about FSU, how the school is faring and the difference between a job and a career.
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.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's 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
GOP Welcomes New State Chair And A Battery Firm Charges Ahead, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 29, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, the state Republican party has a new chairman – a 23-year-old native of Boone county with a surprising amount of political experience. Josh Holstein shares his ideas for bringing the party together and his vision for West Virginia.
A battery factory in Weirton is working to lay foundations and ready its first site for delivery later this year. The co-founder and CEO of Form Energy talks with Curtis Tate about the first installation and how the company fared in recent federal tax legislation.
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.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
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, Energy Assistance And The Impact Of SNAP Cuts On Nutrition Ed, This West Virginia Week
Jul 26, 2025
On this West Virginia Week, flood assistance for storm victims in the Northern Panhandle and energy assistance for families in need. We’ll tell you how upcoming federal cuts to SNAP programs will affect nutrition education here in West Virginia. Also, a mobile black lung screening program is back in operation, and, how ocean lovers in land-locked West Virginia can help protect our seas.
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.
A Singer’s Newly Released ‘Black Book’ And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 25, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, the music of a West Virginia singer and songwriter was self-recorded long before she passed in 2020. But some of those recordings have been discovered, restored and are now featured in a newly released record entitled “Ella Hanshaw’s Black Book.” A granddaughter, inadvertently featured in some of the recordings, tells the back story.
Our Song of the Week features Will Hoge making his seventh appearance on Mountain Stage. His performance of “John Prine’s Cadillac” pays tribute to the late Prine’s legacy and musical influence.
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
Tracking Health Risks Of Fracking And The Impact of ‘Three Strikes’ Laws, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 24, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, fracking has long been a controversial process, pitting oil and gas companies who say the process is necessary and safe, against environmentalists and often nearby residents who point to possible health dangers. Now a non-profit has a new way to track chemical exposure and health effects.
Plus, as more states consider increasing tough-on-crime legislation designed to keep dangerous criminals behind bars, Us & Them, host Trey Kay examines the long-term impact of three strikes laws in Kentucky.
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
Us & Them: Three Strikes 2.0 — But Is Kentucky Any Safer?
Jul 24, 2025
The perception of crime in our nation shows an enormous divide. One recent poll reports 90% of Republicans say crime is up while 60 percent of Democrats say crime is down.
The result has been a wave of ‘tough on crime’ laws from states across the political spectrum that expand the definition of violent crimes and their penalties. The 2024 Safer Kentucky Act is one of those omnibus crime bills that some say casts too wide a net.
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at the history of America’s crime laws to check on provisions that are back, like the so-called Three Strikes law that’s part of Kentucky’s crime bill. In the 1990s, similar measures addressed violent drug crimes, however over time the costs of incarcerating more and more people became too big a burden.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Just Trust and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Rep. Jared BaumanRep. Jason Nemes
Photos courtesy of the Kentucky General Assembly
Reps. Jared Bauman and Jason Nemes, Republicans from Jefferson County, Ky., sponsored the Safer Kentucky Act, a sweeping crime bill that includes a “three strikes” provision. Similar laws gained popularity in the 1990s but have since been widely criticized as costly and ineffective. Both lawmakers declined interview requests for this story.
Pam Thomas, senior fellow at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, focuses on state budget and tax policy, the social safety net, and the criminal legal system — areas she says are deeply interconnected through public funding. Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“The last time Kentucky did major criminal legal system reform was in 2011… They tried to reduce the number of people incarcerated, bring down prison populations, and increase probation and parole. But since then, they’ve passed six or seven times more bills that increase incarceration, lengthen sentences, and impose harsher penalties than ones that reduce them.
A lot of times, people think of violent crime and have a specific image in mind. The federal definition only includes five crimes. But in Kentucky, we have many more definitions in our statutes. What the Safer Kentucky Act did was essentially say that almost everyone charged as a violent offender has to serve 85% of their sentence… Before, someone might be eligible for parole after serving 20%. Now they’re going to serve 85%, which means a lot more days in prison. Year after year, the number of people in the system is going to grow — and there’s nothing you can do about it because they have to serve 85%.
Without more revenue, no — Kentucky can’t afford that if it still wants to fund education, pave roads, maintain a healthcare system, support the judicial system… But it depends on your priorities. You can afford what you decide to afford, but it means you don’t do other things.”
— Pam Thomas, Senior Fellow at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
Judah Schept, a professor in the School of Justice Studies at Eastern Kentucky University. Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“[Kentucky’s] House Bill 5, the so-called Safer Kentucky Act, is what we call an omnibus crime bill — reminiscent of those passed by state legislatures and the federal government, like the 1994 crime bill signed by President Clinton. We actually have the data. We know this is a disastrous public policy approach to all kinds of issues. After four-plus decades of investing so much into the infrastructure of jails and prisons, they’ve become the catch-all solution to every social problem. If there’s a problem with addiction in your community, you invest in the jail. If there’s a revenue decline — like in Eastern Kentucky after the fall of the coal industry — you ‘solve’ it by expanding jail capacity and renting beds to the state or ICE, who pay a per diem that helps fund your county budget.”
— Judah Schept, professor at Eastern Kentucky University.
Sylvia Goodman, a reporter with Kentucky Public Radio, covers the state Capitol and government affairs. Photo courtesy of J. Tyler Franklin
“One of the main things about the Safer Kentucky Act is that the sponsors emphasized repeatedly in hearings that this was a data-driven bill… they talked a lot about the extensive research. And Democrats who were opposed to the bill and reporters like myself had asked repeatedly for some of their sourcing… until on the House floor, a Democrat asked for [a list of their supporting research]. And lo and behold, they actually pulled out a source list and started reading from it… it was very hyper-academic. It sounded like he was reading citations, like from a bibliography. And so afterwards I asked the lead sponsor of the bill, Jared Bauman, for that list, and he provided it to me… it was more than 100 sources of academic research. And I started looking into it.
At first, I thought, man, they really did do their research… but it became apparent very quickly that many of the studies on that list did not have anything to do with this bill… it’s literally a copy and paste—you can tell the formatting is the same and everything is almost exactly the same. It’s a Georgia policy paper that actually called for very different recommendations than what is in this report… they took maybe one of a dozen or so recommendations that this Georgia policy paper recommended… and then they said that all their sources supported the bill. So, you know, it’s a little dubious, frankly.”
— Sylvia Goodman, a reporter with Kentucky Public Radio
Josh Crawford, director of criminal justice initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, authored a report on crime rates in Atlanta that was cited by supporters of HB5, also known as the Safer Kentucky Act. Photo courtesy of Georgia Center for Opportunity
“I had written a report on violent crime reduction for Atlanta… that report had been given by another legislator to Representative Bauman. He reached out… we had a number of conversations about that report and some of the provisions in House Bill 5 and how they either did align or did not align with some of that work… I provided feedback on some of the relevant provisions… dealing with gangs and violent offenses and stuff like that. The report for Atlanta… included sentencing provisions that are recommendations for the state of Georgia as well… things that impact city-level policy are city-level recommendations, things that impact state-level policy are state-level recommendations. My understanding from the legislators who crafted House Bill 5 was they basically took the principles and some of the technical literature on sentencing that are contained in that report and then used that to inform how they crafted changes in Kentucky.”
— Josh Crawford, director of criminal justice initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity
Former Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Christian County, served as the longtime chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and was a former prosecutor. He was one of two Republicans who voted against the Safer Kentucky Act before retiring at the end of the 2024 legislative session. Photo courtesy of Craig Hodge
“The legislators behind the bill talked about exploding crime—even in Jefferson County. It’s just not true... But there was a painted picture of crime on the rise. Most legislators, regardless of the subject, rely on a handful of colleagues they trust as experts. I think that’s what drove the bill.
It’s politically very popular to do tough-on-crime things, to put bad guys in jail and keep them there. Who doesn’t support that—left or right?
The problem is, in the criminal justice space, nuance matters... the costs and the bottom lines matter... and the outcomes for public safety matter a whole bunch. When you move forward with policy without taking those into consideration, you’re blowing it and creating more harm than you intend.
But when you have to explain the nuance, you lose. The ‘tough on crime, clean up our streets’ side wins by default.”
— Former Sen. Whitney Westerfield
The Impact Of Flavor On Vaping And Nutrition Education After Federal Cuts
Jul 23, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, a new study from Marshall University confirms that flavors added to e-cigarettes don’t just make them taste good. The flavors can also enhance the effects of nicotine on the nervous system – and make it harder to quit, despite the health risks.
Plus, how will federal cuts to nutrition education program affect healthy lifestyles for low-income families? The director of SNAP-Ed through the WVU Extension Service tells Chris Schulz that poor households need more that education – they also need access to healthy, nutritious food.
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
All Abuzz Over Bees And A Looming Deadline For Solar Tax Credits, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 22, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, a seemingly simple project – to catalog the native bee population in a neighboring state – has led nature preservationists to identify hundreds of bee species. Some are multi-colored, live far away from a hive and specialize in their life’s work, pollinating only one kind of plant.
Plus, the budget bill has created a looming deadline for commercial and residential solar projects relying on tax credits.
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
The Daily Lives Of Trans Teens And Protecting Our Oceans From Afar, This West Virginia Morning
Jul 21, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, a West Virginia author chronicles the daily lives of eight transgender teens across the United States, delving into their unique situations and personalities in a way that goes far beyond the culture that sometimes define them.
Plus, how people in a land-locked state like West Virginia can help protect oceans and sea life – and why some scientists argue we should.
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
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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
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 MelbyDowntown Welch, West Virginia. Photo Credit: Todd MelbyBefore the Welch Daily News shut down operations, publisher Missy Nester bought another regional paper, the Pineville Independent-Herald for $1. Photo Credit: Todd MelbyMissy Nester, taking a break in the printing press room of The Welch News. Photo Credit: Todd MelbyMissy 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 MelbyThe Welch News closed down operations in March 2023. Photo Credit: Todd MelbyA discarded iMac rests on top of bound copies of The Welch News. Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News printing press dates to 1966, says publisher Missy Nester. Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe 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 MelbyDerek 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 MelbyUs & 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
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.
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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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.
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
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
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 BroadcastingElana 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.
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.
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.
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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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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 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. 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
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 BroadcastingSubsequent 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 JusticeAbortion 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) PostMaryland 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 21Maryland’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 HospitalCresta 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/FacebookMichael 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 MarylandRepublican 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 BroadcastingKatie 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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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.
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
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 VassAfter 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
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.
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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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.
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
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 BlackwoodMembers 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 BlackwoodMarshall 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 ThompsonTrey 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”:
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 QuickeTrey 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 ThompsonDead 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.
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.
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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.
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
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