Efforts Underway To Protect A Rare Plant, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 25, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Morning, one of the world’s rarest plants, the Peters Mountain Mallow, lives on only one mountainside, in the New River Valley along the West Virginia line. Last year, scientists counted just five plants still alive – and the recent drought means protecting it from extinction is getting tougher. Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd reports.
Also, another vehicle has fallen off an interstate overpass in Charleston. Traffic officials are looking at how to make that stretch of road safer.
And, updated draft rules for West Virginia's Military Hall of Fame are now open for public comment.
Finally, with the autumn season right around the corner, West Virginia’s fall foliage projection map is back.
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
Kentucky Neighbors Call For More Data Center Transparency, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 24, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Morning, as developers rapidly propose data centers across Kentucky, their neighbors are struggling to find out what it will mean for them. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Sylvia Goodman reports that residents are calling for more transparency from developers and their own public officials.
Also, the Kentucky Attorney General’s office said a proposed data center in Eastern Kentucky could help offset the cost of a power plant project, but the plan involves West Virginia.
And, just over $1 million is available for the development of an all-in-one care model that coordinates medical care and daily support designed to help older residents with health challenges stay safely in their own homes.
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
New Transmission Line Sees Resistance And The State Has A New Secretary Of Tourism, This West Virginia Week
Aug 22, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Week, plans for a new transmission line may be in trouble, a former state delegate is indicted, and the state has a new secretary of tourism.
Bill Lynch 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, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
A wall in the New Beginnings clinic shows many of the coal miners who've been treated there. Respiratory therapist Marcy Freeman also has a collection of funeral programs for those who've died. Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/Kentucky Public Radio
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control finds that black lung rates are the highest they’ve been since the 1970s. The disease can be debilitating, even for young miners. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports with Howard Berkes, a longtime investigative reporter who’s focused on black lung for years, on why this is happening.
"Gravity House" Roadside Attraction
There’s still time to squeeze in a road trip in the waning days of summer. If you’re on the road, keep an eye out for classic roadside attractions.
Folkways Reporter Andrea “River” Peterson explored how “Gravity House” attractions keep luring new fans with vintage kitsch.
Returning Wild Animals To Wild-ish Places
Elk graze at dawn on reclaimed mine land in Kentucky's designated elk zone. The animals were reintroduced to the state in 1997 and have flourished. Photo Credit: Irina Zhorov/The Pulse
Europeans decimated native animals when they settled the U.S. By the 1800s, some species had disappeared from entire regions of the country, among them, the elk. States east of the Rocky Mountains have been reintroducing elk. But does bringing back wild animals bring back wilderness?
Inside Appalachia Editor Irina Zhorov found that it’s complicated.
The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness
Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton, second from left, watches as five elk are released at a reclaimed strip mine near Hazard Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. These are the first free-ranging elk to set hoof in Kentucky since the 1840s. Photo Credit: John Perkins/Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Wildlife advocates are pushing to bring large species back across the East. It has worked with some species, like elk and not so much with others. A new book looks at the process. It’s called The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness.
Host Mason Adams spoke with author and Pittsburgh journalist Andrew Moore.
Ascend Program Benefits Remote Workers Moving To W.Va
West Virginia is one of a handful of states offering programs that give workers financial incentives to relocate to places where they will have a lower cost of living. Photo Credit: Chris Jackson/NPR
The pandemic supercharged remote working. Several states raced to take advantage with programs to attract remote workers and digital nomads. West Virginia has the Ascend program. It pays people $12,000 over two years to move to West Virginia, as well as providing other incentives.
NPR recently reported that the program has been successful, although the numbers are still pretty small, about 668 direct participants. WVPB News Director Eric Douglas talked with NPR Reporter Scott Neuman, who reported the piece.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Vincent Huey, Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Paul Loomis and the Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Irina Zhorov is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Allison Silverstein.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Restoring The Eastern Wilderness By Reintroducing Big Game To Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 21, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Morning, as wildlife advocates push to reintroduce large game to parts of Appalachia, there's an effort underway to bring back some animals that might surprise you. A new book, “The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness,” looks at the process. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with author Andrew Moore.
And top leadership has changed again at the West Virginia Department of Human Services. Lorie Bragg, who was tapped to be the commissioner of the Bureau for Social Services in May of 2025, is no longer employed with the department.
Also Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a new round of funding aimed at water issues, this time in Wayne County and the application to construct a transmission line in northeastern West Virginia is likely to be delayed.
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, Eric Douglas, and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. 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
The Future Of Social Security Benefits, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 20, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Morning, Social Security began 91 years ago when President Franklin Roosevelt signed it into law. Since then, it has provided a social safety net to Americans, allowing many of them to retire with dignity, according to John Hishta, senior vice president of campaigns with AARP. But many experts say that without some action, social security benefits will have to be reduced by 20% in 2032. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Hishta to understand the situation.
Also, a federal grand jury has indicted a former state delegate on charges of sexual exploitation of a child.
And, communities struggling to provide clean drinking water to their residents will get financial and practical help, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Wednesday.
Finally, unemployment fell in July compared to the previous month, but so did West Virginia’s workforce participation rate.
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
Understanding Different Kinds Of Thunderstorms, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 18, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Morning, it’s thunderstorm season, but not all of them are the same. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Bill Burton and meteorologist Tawana Andrew break down what we know – and what we don't – about the climate and weather in the region. This week, they examine different types of thunderstorms.
Also, a middle school in Lewis County is getting a $400,000 advance, so they can get students back in the classroom following severe flood damage.
And, a chemical recycling operation in the Kanawha Valley is raising more than pollution concerns from observers.
Finally, as West Virginians clean up after another round of severe weather this weekend, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division urges those affected to fill out the official disaster damage survey.
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
Hyperscale Data Centers Sparking Bipartisan Outrage, This West Virginia Morning
Aug 17, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Morning, for the third installment in our series on data centers, we look at how data centers proposals are provoking outrage from local opponents. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Kentucky Public Radio’s Joe Sonka reports that such fights are increasingly common — and bipartisan.
Also, heavy rains and thunderstorms passed through the state over the weekend causing flooding and mudslides throughout central West Virginia.
And, a federal judge declined the state’s request Friday to dismiss a lawsuit brought by West Virginia’s largest overdose prevention group, Solutions Oriented Addiction Response of West Virginia, also known as SOAR.
Finally, participants in West Virginia's Tourism Works program have earned more than 25,000 microcredentials, and 1,000 college credit hours since the program launched last year, according to a press release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
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
FEMA And Voucher Controversy Continues, This West Virginia Week
Aug 15, 2026
Show notes
On this West Virginia Week, changes are coming to FEMA, few details on school clothing voucher accusations, and the state has a new guide for data centers.
Bill Lynch 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, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
New YA Fiction Explores Witches In A Mountain Coal Town
Japanese Shinto Garden Roots In Southwest Virginia
Gerald Bland visited Hime Yamuchi Bland’s family several times. Amelia Bland Waller met many of those pictured here when she traveled to Japan in 2024 to execute the behests in Hime’s will. Courtesy
Elk Creek, Virginia, is a small, unincorporated community located in Grayson County, about a half hour from the North Carolina border. Many people in Elk Creek have deep ties to their land, and for one family taking care of their land and honoring their ancestors meant creating a traditional Japanese Shinto Garden.
From Elk Creek, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story.
Mosaic In Whitesburg, KY, Honors Community After Flooding
Lacy Hale (left) and Julian Holt (right) take a break from grouting the mosaic. Holt is a painter and printmaker from Letcher County, Kentucky, and is currently a student at Eastern Kentucky University. They were Hale’s intern for the mosaic project. Photo Credit: Nik Lee/Appalshop
Letcher County, Kentucky, artist Lacy Hale is known across Appalachia for her enduring screen print that reads, “No Hate in My Holler.” But Lacy does a lot of public art projects.
And so, four years after the devastating Kentucky floods, she was hired to make a public mosaic that incorporates material contributions from community members. The artwork protects memories, shares stories and helps the community to heal.
The Whitesburg mosaic was completed and unveiled at the end of July. This story was produced by Nicole Musgrave and was a collaboration between Mimi Pickering of Appalshop and Teresa Collins of the Center for Rural Strategies and originally aired on the Rural Remix podcast.
Designing Dignity For Aging Pennsylvanians
Alana Gibbs and Darah Thompson walk their father Lloyd Richardson down a hallway at Arden Courts in Pittsburgh's North Hills. Photo Credit: Kiley Koscinski/90.5 WESA
WESA’s Designing Dignity series is exploring possible solutions for healthcare challenges created by Pennsylvania’s —and Appalachia’s — aging population. Some of these ideas come from Japan, where one-third of the population is 65 or older.
Japan has implemented a program to keep medical costs down through a taxpayer-funded insurance program specifically for long-term care. Several U.S. states are exploring their own version of universal long-term care insurance.
WESA’s Kiley Koscinski reports.
Rare "Peters Mountain Mallow" Plant Threatened By Droughts In Virginia
Ryan Klopf, mountain region supervisor with Virginia Natural Heritage Program, hunts for any sign of Peters Mountain Mallow on a mountainside in Giles County. Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQ
One of Virginia’s rarest plants, the Peters Mountain Mallow, lives on only one mountainside in the world, in the New River Valley along the West Virginia line. Last year, scientists counted just five plants that are still alive, and the ongoing drought means protecting it from extinction is getting tougher.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd reports.
Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania
Tory Mather holds her book, Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania, in Frick Park in Pittsburgh. Photo Credit: Savannah Colberg/The Allegheny Front
Tori Mather is the author of Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania, a new book that introduces readers to some of the state’s treasures.
The Alleghany Front’s Savannah Colberg met up with Mather in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park to learn more.
Mountain Biking's Long Path To Racing In Roanoke
Roanoke mountain biker Mark Boyer drops down a trail at Carvins Cove Natural Reserve. Photo Credit: Mason Adams/WVTF
In July, Roanoke, Virginia, hosted USA Cycling's Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships. For local mountain bikers, it was just the latest summit in a decades-long, uphill grind for respectability.
Host Mason Adams reports from Roanoke.
New YA Fiction Explores Witches In A Mountain Coal Town
The cover of Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire. Courtesy of Don Martin/Page Street Publishing
The young adult novel Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire tells the story of a witch-in-training who uses her magic to help a forgotten mountain coal town. The book blends fantasy and Appalachian social history, with a touch of queer romance. It’s the debut novel by Don Martin, and it was an instant New York Times bestseller.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Martin about the book and his podcast Head on Fire.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Jeff Ellis, Dinosaur Burps, and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Irina Zhorov is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Allison Silverstein.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
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