While Americans disagree about many things when it comes to politics, elections and domestic and global affairs, most agree that a robust economy is essential for a strong nation. In recent months, nearly all U.S. states have shown economic growth, except West Virginia, and the state is not just losing jobs, it’s losing young people.

In this first of two Us & Them episodes, host Trey Kay talks with a number of young adults from the Mountain State about whether they will stay put or move to find their future elsewhere. This episode focuses on those who think they want to stay in West Virginia and are leaning toward building their lives here, even as they wrestle with whether they’ll findthe opportunities they need.

In a state where the death rate exceeds the birth rate and the workforce participation rate is the nation’s lowest, there are efforts to retain population. But some say the state needs to do something else to become more competitive.

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation’s Narrative Change Grant.

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.

“I’m conflicted…There’s plenty of reasons for me to stay but there’s plenty of reasons for me to go. ... Young people are leaving because we want better opportunities. We want a state that actually will take care of the surrounding towns to make it look better. ... Really, that’s my main thing. Opportunities and jobs. That’s what West Virginia really needs to keep people and make people want to stay.”

— Braxton Halstead

“He had a hard time as a freshman in high school. His grades weren’t very good and he thought he had the grade point average to play baseball and he made the baseball team. But of course, the coach checks GPAs and he was just a little bit short. He didn’t have the grades to play and that crushed him. ... And he’s just excelled so and shown such an interest in it. And it’s really brought him around too, because it’s built confidence for him.”

— Joey Halstead

Learn more about the Toyota’s 4T Academy WV program.

“I love telling stories. During the signing event, especially when we first added Putnam County, I met with some students that are in high school that are literally two miles from the plant. And I asked them, ‘Hey, you know, growing up, did you ever think about coming to work at Toyota before this program came along?’ And every single one of them said, ‘Nope, never thought of it.’ But here’s this big plant that’s literally two miles from their high school, but the difference was they didn’t understand what was happening inside the plant. So part of this recruiting process is they get a chance before they even commit to the program to be able to come into the plant and see what we do.”

— David Rosier

“Before I told you I had no clue what I wanted to do after high school. And this gives me the chance to even, like, I could obviously stay here and continue to do what I’m doing right now. Or I could go out of state and apply to other Toyota plants there and just have a similar opportunity in a better place.”

— Braxton Halstead 

“When I was graduating college, trying to find a job [was a challenge]. I always saw like all these people and I was like, why? ... There’s so many people that have these really cool jobs in West Virginia and they do these great things and they’re doing really well for themselves, for their families. But all these other people were leaving because they say there’s nothing. And I’m like, oh, well there has to be. ... And then I tried looking. And it was like nothing.”

— Lilly Barickman

“North Carolina found itself in a very similar place, probably I’m going to just say roughly in the 1960s. North Carolina still had tobacco wealth and North Carolina had banking wealth. And North Carolina had textile wealth. ... But they looked around and they said it’s not gonna last. ... We’ve got to make investments. And so what did they do? They made investments in air service. They made investment in roads and highways. Importantly, and very importantly, they invested in their schools and in higher education.”

— Steve Roberts

Learn more about West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Learn more about Academy of Careers and Technology.

“That industry [project electrician] is a traveling industry. So you go where the work is, but you always come back home. You're just a traveling worker is what you do. So West Virginia has always been my home. It’s never really changed from that. ... I think most people want to stay in West Virginia if they’re from here and can. ... But I think the majority of people stay close if they can.”

— Kevin Bolen

“We had friends when I was growing up in high school that would always say things like can’t wait to get out of here. They were looking for elsewhere, something probably new, something maybe exciting and following that ‘grass is greener’ trap. ... If you have a mind to do it, you can make something out of anything. You have to have a mind to see it, but then character to stick through. ... There’s challenges everywhere.”

— Isaac Rinehart

“The leaders in West Virginia put all their eggs in the coal basket and it turned rotten and they didn't make allowances for what else to be a part of. ... Mechanization really hurt the area too. ... It created higher paying jobs, but it required less people. So again, that was just something else they needed to change gears for, to provide employment for the people that mechanization would force them to have to change.”

— John Rinehart

“‘That which you seek cannot be found. It must be made.’ That’s why Excalibur hangs on this wall. Take it from a guy who spent the first 22 years of his life in Kenova, West Virginia, dreaming of a way out, and every day after that dreaming of a way home. I've lived in the greatest places that people ever thought they wanted to live. I've lived in New York, I've lived in Dallas, Texas, I've lived in Atlanta, Georgia, I lived in San Francisco, I lived in San Diego, and you know what? I wanted to come home. Every day, I wanted to come home. ... So why leave? Why not create the greatest thing right here? ... I lost 36 years wandering in the wilderness. Come home.”

— Brad D. Smith 

Learn more about Brad D. Smith.

On this West Virginia Morning, economic growth in West Virginia ranks close to the bottom in national rankings. It’s not just losing jobs, it’s also losing young people. In the first of two new Us & Them episodes, host Trey Kay talks with several young adults from the Mountain State asking whether they will stay put or find their future elsewhere.

Twenty-five-year-old Lilly Barickman is senior manager of communications and engagement for the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. She told Kay it’s a challenge to find opportunities.   

Also, community members from across West Virginia have come together to try and affect how data centers are being developed in the state.

And, West Virginia has been selected to host one of four locations for a special program from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Finally, more students across the state now have access to essential medical treatment and behavioral healthcare in their schools.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, as one of the hardest hit states in the country's opioid crisis, communities across West Virginia have started spending their portion of the roughly $1 billion in settlements from pharmaceutical companies and distributors. Schuyler Mitchell, assistant news director at nonprofit newsroom Mother Jones, reported last month on the use of the funds to purchase automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, from companies like Flock. She spoke to Chris Schulz about her findings.  

Also, State Treasurer Larry Pack has responded to a Mingo County lawsuit over the expansion of the Hope Scholarship program. 

And, West Virginia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy to become the sixth state chosen for a nuclear energy opportunity that could bring thousands of new jobs.

Finally, data centers and the energy to run them have been in the news a lot lately. Last year, the West Virginia Legislature passed the Power Generation and Consumption Act, also known as House Bill 2014, to encourage their development.  

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

On this West Virginia Morning, the mayor of Gallatin, Tennessee, says a Meta hyperscale data center is the city’s largest taxpayer, but residents still have concerns about its effect on utilities, the environment and property values. Travel up I-65 and data center fights are playing out in several Kentucky communities. Lisa Autry from the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom went to Gallatin to find out if Big Tech is a good neighbor. 

Also, it’s National 988 Day, a day to remind West Virginians that help through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And, if you have a disability, or are a family member or caregiver for someone who does, the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council wants to hear from you.  

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

On this West Virginia Week, a second data center is coming to Mason County, the Rural Health Transformation Program Funds are beginning to be distributed in the state, and remembering Dolly Parton. 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

We remember the one and only Dolly Parton. 

Dolly used her musical success to help others. She started the Imagination Library, a free book program for children that included some of her favorites, like the Little Engine that Could. 

And, Dolly’s kindness touched people from all walks of life.  

Today, we’re honoring Dolly Parton, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

• Mountain Stage Host Kathy Mattea Remembers Dolly Parton
• Dolly Parton's Hometown In East Tennessee Mourns
• Author Spent Nearly A Decade Researching Dolly Parton's Songwriting
• Imagination Library Grows Throughout W.Va.
• Willie Carver On Dolly Parton, Queerness And Being Mortal

Mountain Stage Host Kathy Mattea Remembers Dolly Parton

Since her estate made the announcement of her passing on Aug. 25, grieving fans have written tributes and fond remembrances. Mountain Stage host and fellow country music star Kathy Mattea, who has spent a little time with Dolly, shared a few memories with Host Mason Adams. 

East Tennessee Mourns Dolly Parton In Her Hometown

Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Katie Myers lives in east Tennessee. And she was in Sevier County, Tennessee on assignment the day it was announced Dolly had died. While in the area, Myers visited Dolly’s statue in Sevierville and brought us this story.

Author Spent Nearly A Decade Researching Dolly Parton's Songwriting

Dolly Parton recorded more than 1,000 songs. But — crucially — she was also a song writer, who wrote more than 3,000 songs, including tracks that were recorded by many, many others. 

Lydia Hamessley is a professor of music at Hamilton College, in New York, and the author of Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton. She spent nearly a decade researching Dolly’s music catalog. 

Associate Producer Abby Neff talked with Hamessley. 

Imagination Library Grows Throughout W.Va.

For all of her musical success, a lot of people have spent the time since her death talking about her community work. A huge part of that, was Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy program she started in 1995. The program mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.

In 2022, Dolly visited West Virginia, to celebrate the moment when all 55 of the state’s counties became part of the Imagination Library. 

WVPB's then Executive Producer Suzanne Higgins met Dolly at the Clay Center in Charleston and spoke with her about the origins of the program and why it was so dear to her.  

Willie Carver On Dolly Parton, Queerness And Being Mortal

Dolly also meant a lot to educator, author and poet Willie Carver Jr. from east Kentucky. He wrote a piece for MSNOW memorializing her life and death.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Carver about the loss of Dolly Parton. 

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Mountain Stage with a recorded live performance by Kathy Mattea. Additional music from Ron Mullennex and Dolly Parton.  

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.  

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, we remember Dolly Parton, not just as a musician and celebrity, but as a voice for Appalachian humor, resilience and kindness. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Mountain Stage host and country star Kathy Mattea, who shares some of her memories. 

Also, a second data center is coming to Mason County, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday. 

And, Justice William “Bill” Wooton has been released from a hospital following a medical incident Wednesday morning in the midst of oral arguments at the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.  

Finally, the U.S. Department of Justice is offering free training and prevention resources to help schools and youth groups keep children safe online.

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, NPR recently released a story showing that heat-related deaths in the United States have likely been undercounted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks deaths, but it isn’t always easy to attribute a death to heat. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Brian Leary, assistant professor and director of tactical performance physiology with the WVU School of Medicine Division of Exercise Physiology, to discuss what heat does to the body and what it means in West Virginia.

Also, Justice William "Bill" Wooton experienced what was described as a medical incident Wednesday morning during oral arguments at the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

And, a new analysis from the state treasurer's office hopes to dispel confusion around potential tax revenue from data centers.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, every week, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s 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, we're talking about when different areas of the country have their hottest days.

Also, education leaders, families and community members are calling on lawmakers to take immediate action on school funding.

And, a memorial that honors a West Virginia hero and generations of soldiers who bravely served with him is one step closer to reality.

Finally, state tax collections for August came in higher than expected, but the pace is expected to cool as the most recently passed personal income tax cuts are fully implemented.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, National Save A Life day began in West Virginia, but organizers say some people are reluctant to pick up the free, easy-to-use naloxone kits that could someday help someone in need due to stigma. Maria Young caught up with Caroline Wilson, the National Save A Life Day coordinator, to find out what to expect if you stop by one of the dozens of booths planned across the state later this month. 

Also community and conservation groups are asking West Virginia courts to make sure their challenges to an air permit are properly reviewed, and a second climber dies near Seneca Rocks.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, noise pollution has reached dangerous levels for residents living near the Memphis-Mississippi border. That’s the home of Elon Musk’s X-AI data center campus that runs Grok, the AI chatbot for the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports on what’s becoming an emerging model of data center – and unchecked noise pollution. 

Also, SNAP recipients in four West Virginia counties are now able to purchase hot foods using their SNAP benefits through Sept. 26. 

And, 54 low-security inmates at the Ohio County Correctional Center in Wheeling are in the process of being moved to other facilities so the jail there can close.  

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

On this West Virginia Week, a client for a big data center is revealed, flock cameras see resistance and social media settles in court. 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

On this West Virginia Morning, we lost the beloved Dolly Parton this week. The Tennessee native was an American music icon, an actress and a philanthropist. She was also, undeniably, Appalachian.

To mark her passing, Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Ted Olson, a country music historian at East Tennessee State University’s Department for Appalachian Studies.

And South Charleston High School's varsity football team took to the field for the first game of the season Thursday night wearing new, safer helmets that are showing up on football fields across the state.

Also, a West Virginia whistleblower alleges federal funds for HIV treatment are being misused, and some of the best whitewater in the country is coming to West Virginia in a few short weeks.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, Hollywood may have coined the term 'failure to launch,' but it's showing up in young adults in West Virginia – for a troubling reason. There are so many young people in the U.S. who are not working or going to school, there’s a name for it - disconnected youth. About 12% of West Virginia’s young people from 16 to 24 fall into that category. And while the rate has dropped, it’s still a challenge.  

In the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay works with co-producer Kyle Vass to learn why the state has such a high number. Vass talks with psychologist Colleen Moran about what prevents some people from moving ahead.  

A national settlement with the makers of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram means not only big money for West Virginia, but changes to the sites themselves.

Also Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of West Virginia has received tremendous response to the passing of the country music superstar and the moon puts on a celestial show tonight.

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

There are so many young people in the U.S. who are not in school, working or training for work, that there’s a name for it. They are ‘disconnected youth,’ and while West Virginia’s rate has dropped in recent years, it’s still one of the highest in the nation. 

Just under 12%, or 24,000, young people are in this category, and they can be tough to track down because there’s a stigma attached to this status. However, some programs are trying to bridge the gap - to connect with young people and help them train for a job and a career. 

On this Us & Them episode, we’ll find out why some young people get stuck and the things Mountain State leaders say could help this next generation.

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the West Virginia Humanities Council.

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.

“A lot of them have not had basic needs met for a while. They haven't been able to get to the dentist, they haven't been to a doctor, they need to get eyeglasses, they don't have a driver's license, they can't find their Social Security card or their birth certificate. So, we walk through those things to get them to a stable place, where they then feel comfortable to even be in a classroom and start thinking about their education, start getting marketable job skills.”

— Michelle Ferris

“I generally don't like to characterize people in a negative connotation, and ‘disconnected youth’ seems to me to be a negative connotation. I'm sure that those students are connected to something. It's our job to figure out what they're connected to, to tap into that and to get them to connect to other things.”

— Sarah Armstrong Tucker, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System

“I grew up in Elkins, West Virginia, in a fairly lower, middle class family who had periods of some pretty acute poverty. And as a queer teenager trying to figure out, ‘OK, what comes next out of this tiny town?’ there was a lot of, ‘Where do I go? Where do I look? How do I get connected?’ And if it wasn’t for the social connections that I was fortunate enough to have, there is no way that a lot of this stuff would have happened. … Unless I had people who were like, ‘Oh, here’s how to do this,’ there’s no way I would have gotten the drive to go to college or the push to keep going further.”

— John Prentice

“You don't fix anything. You provide skills. You teach abilities. You support. You encourage. You guide. We don't ‘fix’ because these people aren't broken. They have been through some horrendous experiences, or they have chemical imbalances, or they are in bad situations. They are not broken. They just need help, support and skills.”

— Colleen Moran

On this West Virginia Morning, singer, actress and icon Dolly Parton visited West Virginia in 2022 to celebrate the state’s full participation in her Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy program she started in honor of her father in 1995. Dolly Parton died Tuesday after a brief illness. We listen to a clip from an interview she did with then WVPB Executive Producer Suzanne Higgins. Watch the full interview here.

Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced the replacement for a state delegate who recently resigned.

And, National Save A Life Day is less than a month away, but there's still time for you or your organization to get involved.

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

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

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

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

A new report finds the number of black lung cases is at its highest since the 1970s. The human cost is high.

Also, the author of a new book says reintroducing nearly extinct animals back into the wild can boost damaged ecosystems, but they can't repair them. 

And, roadside attractions pay tribute to our enduring fascination with weird.

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

In This Episode:

• Black Lung Cases Highest In 50 Years
• "Gravity House" Roadside Attraction
• Returning Wild Animals To Wild-ish Places
• The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness
• Ascend Program Benefits Remote Workers Moving To W.Va

Black Lung Cases Highest In 50 Years

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

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

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

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. 

--

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.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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

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

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

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

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

A Japanese Shinto Garden took root in southwestern Virginia because of family connections spanning geography and generations. 

Also, in Whitesburg, Kentucky, a new mosaic uses recovered objects to honor the town’s people after the flood of 2022. 

And, the young adult novel Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire mixes historical fact with spooky Appalachian folklore.

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

In This Episode:

• Japanese Shinto Garden Roots In Southwest Virginia
• Mosaic In Whitesburg, KY Honors Community After Flooding
• Designing Dignity For Aging Pennsylvanians
• Rare "Peters Mountain Mallow" Plant Threatened By Droughts In Virginia
• Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania
• Mountain Biking's Long Path To Racing In Roanoke
• New YA Fiction Explores Witches In A Mountain Coal Town

Japanese Shinto Garden Roots In Southwest Virginia

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

--

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.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that black lung rates are the highest they’ve been since the 1970s. Justin Hicks and Howard Burkes reported on that for the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Hicks and Burkes to dig a little deeper.  

Also, officials have released an update into a deadly chemical accident in April.

And, the developer of a proposed data center in Tucker County has provided the state proof that it owns the property on which it plans to build.

Finally, a team from American Water is heading to the town of Wayne to investigate a problem that has plagued the community for years.

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 is our producer.

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

For a decade or more, West Virginia has been at the center of America's opioid epidemic and overdose death toll. 

There is encouraging news as the state’s overdose deaths have fallen dramatically. In the past year, state officials report a nearly 38 percent drop in overdose deaths. But addiction remains the most common reason for West Virginia children to be taken from their families. 

In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with a filmmaker whose recent movie What We Hide focuses on the collateral damage of addiction on children. And as part of a WVU training symposium, Kay hears from professionals who work with people affected by addiction about the cost on our medical system, social service networks and child protection workers.

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

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.

Dan Kay’s film What We Hide follows two sisters who hide their mother’s overdose death because they fear being separated by the foster care system. The film stars McKenna Grace and Jojo Regina and explores the collateral damage addiction can leave behind for children and families.

Learn more about What We Hide and find viewing options through the film’s official website.

View the trailer for What We Hide.

“I'd been interested in the subject of addiction, but even more specifically, I was very interested in collateral damage caused by addiction. I felt that there had been some terrific films and plays and articles and books that are focused on the addict's experience, which is very valuable. But I didn't think there'd been much where, particularly in film, where we were exploring what is left in the addict's wake? [For the]  family, friends? What is that existence like? And I don't remember if it was a podcast or an article, but I heard the term ‘opioid orphans,’ and it all just kind of clicked for me. I just thought that would be a really interesting place to explore this idea of the collateral damage caused by addiction.”

— Dan Kay, writer and filmmaker

“Something that was said to me a few years ago that I thought was very helpful is we should actually twist things a little bit and focus less on stigma reduction, and really focus more on empathy cultivation. And I think that's what this film does, is it's really helping cultivate empathy. Again, I can try to educate everybody I possibly can about the science of addiction and what's happening with the brain and through these processes that keep people doing things that they know are wrong. But to be able to tell a story the way that Dan told this story, that is empathy cultivation. Whereas if I just try to educate I'm trying to reduce stigma by giving them education and I think this is so much more powerful.”

— Dr. James Berry

“There's so many things that stood out for me as a clinician but you know as on the topic of trust, it wasn't just in the system where trust was broken, right? I mean when you think about our primary people, you know, whether it's our parents or grandparents or aunts and uncles that raise us, like trust is central to that, right, and trust was broken, particularly for Spider … And so when I think about how, like from top to bottom, it wasn't just the system that they couldn't trust. It was their mom too, right. And so, when I think of it from a trauma perspective, you know for me, trauma is not what happens. It's how it changes our brain. So trauma is a brain change and it's a disruption in the nervous system.”

— Dolly Sullivan

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia has been at the center of America's opioid epidemic and overdose death toll. While recent reports show the state’s overdose deaths have fallen by nearly 38%, addiction remains the most common reason for West Virginia children to be taken from their families. In the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay attends a WVU training symposium, including a screening of the recent film What We Hide, and hears from professionals who work with people affected by addiction.

Also, Logan County Schools have been under some level of state control for close to four years. They are gaining back local control now, but the district’s financial outlook is concerning.

And, it’s still not clear how many needy children received back to school clothes or if any of the funds were instead used for beer and cigarettes following a hearing on the state’s school clothing voucher program.

Finally, student assessments in math and English fell nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, but students in West Virginia now surpass 2019 proficiency levels.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, as lawmakers and educational leaders across West Virginia take a hard look at school finances, administrative staff that work outside the classroom have come under increased scrutiny. But Uriah Cummings, School Financial Operations officer for the West Virginia Department of Education, says administrators manage an increasingly complicated educational landscape. He spoke to Education Reporter Chris Schulz about their necessary role in schools. 

Also, just in time for severe thunderstorms to roll in across much of the southern half of West Virginia Tuesday, members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding heard about changes coming to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

And, lawmakers continue to keep a close eye on school discipline after years of new legislation.

Finally, a new report says West Virginia is facing a crisis with most counties qualifying as legal deserts.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders' iconic items earned big bucks at auction. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, reporter Andrew Henderson went to the auction and hung around for the fried chicken. 

Also, West Virginia lawmakers have said school funding reform is a top priority in next year’s legislative session, and they got a glimpse of the governor’s perspective on the issue.  

And, members of the Joint Committee on Children and Families were frustrated by the lack of detailed information they received regarding critical incidents involving children in state care.

Finally, state lawmakers also discussed AI-surveillance cameras for nearly an hour and a half on Sunday as controversies continue over the use of the technology. 

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

On this West Virginia Morning, residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers. A recurring concern is how the developments could affect the cost of electricity. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Curtis Tate reports this comes as utility prices have already been on the rise.

Also, legislative interims got underway at the state capitol in Charleston over the weekend, a chance for lawmakers to address significant issues that come up between the regular 60-day session that begins in January.  

And, democrats in the West Virginia House of Delegates are renewing their call for Gov. Patrick Morrisey to bring the legislature back in for a special session to address what they call a crisis with the public school funding formula.  

Finally, Morrisey ordered U.S. and state flags lowered at all state facilities and in Jefferson County in honor of former state Sen. Herb Snyder, who died last week. Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday, Aug. 14. 

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

On this West Virginia Week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey gets pushback over school clothing vouchers, Huntington residents seek to ban Flock cameras, and black lung is big again. 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

On this West Virginia Morning, for nearly 100 years, Snuffy Smith has been a staple of newspaper comic pages, though these days, it’s easier to find him online. Snuffy Smith was brought to life by Artist Fred Lasswell in the 1930s, but now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke to Rose about drawing the famous hillbilly. 

Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is getting pushback for the concerns he’s raised about school clothing voucher funds that are accessed through ATMs.

And, a group of Huntington residents hopes to ban the city from entering into any contracts for mass surveillance systems.

Finally, individuals who live or work in Lewis and Upshur counties and lost work due to the severe storms on July 21 and 22 may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) 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.

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, federal health researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a new report about black lung disease among the most experienced coal miners in Appalachia. They are suffering from the incurable disease at the highest rates in nearly half a century. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports.

Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has launched an investigation into whether funds from the school voucher clothing program were actually used to purchase things other than clothes for kids.

And, coal volumes for two of the nation’s biggest railroads are up from last year. Domestic coal shipments declined amid a flurry of favorable Trump administration policies.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) has just launched its inaugural Coolest Thing Made In West Virginia tournament. Nominations are open now and the public voting begins in a few short weeks. Assistant News Director Maria Young caught up with WVMA President Bill Bissett to find out what organizers hope will come from the competition – and what makes a really cool product. 

Also, a former delegate has removed himself from the November general election ballot, avoiding a hearing before the state election commission.

And, southern West Virginia residents concerned about water quality in their homes and communities have a chance to tell Gov. Patrick Morrisey all about those issues.

Finally, three members of the Marion County Board of Education are being sued for sexual discrimination by two employees.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, roadside farmstands with homemade jams and bread are a common sight in Appalachia. Because they’re unmanned, many of them work on the honor system: Take a carton of berries, leave some cash. But the humble farm stand is changing to keep up with an increasingly cash-free society. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch recently visited a stand in Wythe County, Virginia and has this. 

Also, American Electric Power has agreed to buy one of the nation’s newest coal-fired electric plants. It also comes with permits to build a natural gas plant.  

And, Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office released a statement on Monday, addressing concerns about the School Clothing Allowance program.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, data center development is a fast-growing industry, with projects popping up in seemingly every corner of the country. But that’s not been the case in West Virginia so far. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Chris Schulz reports state officials are rolling out the red carpet for the expensive and increasingly expansive projects.

Also, National Night Out will be celebrated across West Virginia on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The event began in 1970 in Philadelphia, as an effort to encourage police-community partnerships and promote neighborhood camaraderie. 

And, bugs are everywhere. They’re essential to things like farming and a healthy environment, and they’re hard to ignore when you spend time outside. Working with some folks at the Natural History Museum of Utah, WPLN news editor Daniel Potter been making a podcast about bugs, including some you can’t miss this time of year: fireflies. 

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

On this West Virginia Week, parents are urged to have the difficult discussions and take the necessary steps to keep their children safe from harm after a teacher and state delegate is arrested for sexual abuse. Maria Young spoke to U.S. Attorney Moore Capito about how best to protect children from predators who seem both successful and safe. 

Also, a recent national story looked at Ascend West Virginia, an effort to attract remote workers. News Director Eric Douglas caught up with NPR reporter Scott Neuman to discuss the program in relation to other similar efforts and what he discovered.      

We also get updates from flood recovery efforts, one power plant expands while another files for bankruptcy, and the state records its first case of measles in two years. 

Finally, from this week’s Inside Appalachia, Mason Adams speaks with writer Emilee Hackney about her new book All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir. It explores the tension between loving her home in Tazwell, Virginia, while also feeling stifled there, and what happened when she left.

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, Eric Douglas and Maria Young. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

A new memoir explores the struggle to stay in Appalachia and the struggle to leave.

Also, an exhibit in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, documents the contributions of the Catawba Nation to the American Revolutionary War.

And, grab some sunscreen as we make a visit to the Nelsonville Music Festival in Ohio.

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

In This Episode:

• All That's Unseen
• Remembering Russell Yann
• Appalachian Researchers Work To Save Rare Giant Salamander
• Museum Highlights Catawba Nation Involvement In Revolutionary War
• Designing Dignity With Home Care
• Spotted Lanternfly Threatens Agriculture
• Connie Jordan Green On Poetry And Growing Up In Oak Ridge
• A Postcard From Nelsonville Music Festival
  

All That's Unseen

Virginia writer Emilee Hackney has a complicated relationship with her home. She loves the place where she’s from, in Tazewell County — her friends, family, the swimming holes and mountains and wild places — but she also felt stifled. Her new memoir All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir explores this tension and her experience when she did leave.

Host Mason Adams spoke with Hackney about the book.

Remembering Russell Yann

Appalachia loves its hotdogs. You can sometimes even clock where someone is from, based on how they eat their dogs — whether they get them with sauce, chili or coleslaw. Sometimes even how they’re cooked.  

In 2021, Folkways Reporter and noted hotdog afficionado Zack Harold filed this story about Yann’s hotdogs in Fairmont, West Virginia, following the passing of its owner, Russell Yann. 

Appalachian Researchers Work To Save Rare Giant Salamander

This year, the Eastern Hellbender became Kentucky’s first-ever state amphibian. The mammoth salamander was once abundant along Appalachia’s waterways, but it’s struggled to maintain healthy populations amid climate change and human activity. In 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the animal as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 

WKYU's Hope Heffley has more on conservationists’ efforts to preserve the hellbender. 

Museum Highlights Catawba Nation Involvement In Revolutionary War

With the nation’s 250^th birthday, there’s been a lot of remembrance of the War for Independence. Including the battles that took place in the South, in multiple states that make up Appalachia. In Kings Mountain, North Carolina, an exhibit highlights the role of the Catawba Nation in the Revolutionary War. The tribal group lived in the Charlotte area and supported the colonial army at almost every major battle and skirmish that took place in the South.

WFAE’s Marshall Terry reports.

Designing Dignity With Home Care

As with other Appalachian states, Pennsylvania’s population is getting older. This will likely create new healthcare challenges. In the series "Designing Dignity," WESA’s Kiley Koscinski visited Japan, a country with an aging population, to learn how it’s preparing. 

This week, Koscinski explores chronic care, a major driver of healthcare spending. Japan has tried to reduce hospitalizations by providing care in the patient’s home, but a workforce shortage could threaten the program’s success. 

Spotted Lanternfly Threatens Agriculture

With its distinctive Dalmatian pattern and splash of red, the spotted lanternfly stands out as a threat to dozens of plants. The insect is well on its way to becoming one of the worst pests American agriculture has ever seen, with the potential to cause millions, perhaps billions of dollars in losses to crops. 

WVPB’s Chris Schulz spoke with WVU Extension entomologist Carlos Quesada to learn more about the insect and how to stop its spread. 

Connie Jordan Green On Poetry And Growing Up In Oak Ridge

For more than 50 years, east Tennessee’s Connie Jordan Green has written everything from young adult novels to a long running newspaper column about gardening. Her poetry explores the natural world, living on a farm and growing up in a secret Tennessee city built during World War II. 

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Green about her childhood and her latest collection of poetry, Nameless as the Minnows.

A Postcard From Nelsonville Music Festival

This summer, the Nelsonville Music Festival in Southeast Ohio celebrated its 20th anniversary. The festival has functioned as a showcase, especially for bands from Ohio, the Ohio River Valley and greater Appalachia. This year’s lineup included performances from Wednesday, Geese, S.G. Goodman and others.

Associate Producer Abby Neff went to the festival. 

--

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Flatt and Scruggs, Tim Bing, Paul Loomis, John Inghram and Mary Hott 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 Chris Julin.

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, writer Emilee Hackney has a complicated relationship with where she grew up. She loved her friends, family, the swimming holes and wild places in Tazewell County, Virginia, but she felt stifled. Her new memoir, All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir, explores this tension and what happened when she did leave.  

Also, once a candidate has been placed on the ballot for the general election, there are only certain reasons they can be removed, but state election officials have been asked to try.   

And, the West Virginia Department of Health (WVDOH) has confirmed the state’s first case of measles in more than two years.

Finally, the state’s overall unemployment rate is tied with the national average at 4.2%, but some counties in the state are much higher or lower.

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, a recent national story identified West Virginia’s Ascend program as being highly successful, even though the numbers are relatively small. News Director Eric Douglas caught up with NPR reporter Scott Neuman to discuss the program in relation to other similar efforts and what he discovered.

Also, applications for West Virginia’s School Clothing Allowance program opened later than usual this year – and closed earlier than expected.

And, transferring knowledge from master to apprentice is one of the oldest ways of handing down traditions, but applications are open for a program to support that relationship.  

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

On this West Virginia Morning, the criminal charges against teacher and now-former delegate Elliott Pritt shocked many of his colleagues – and alarmed parents in West Virginia who wonder how best to protect their children from predators who seem both successful and safe. Moore Capito, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, whose office is prosecuting the case, talked with Assistant News Director Maria Young about what specific steps parents can take to keep their children from harm. 

Also, the owner of a coal-fired power plant north of Parkersburg has filed for bankruptcy.

And, a new natural gas-powered power plant is coming to the region, according to a press release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

Finally, the city of Wheeling broke ground Tuesday on a project that’s expected to breathe new life into the downtown area.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, traditional Appalachian ballads have found new life in the form of an audio drama podcast produced by the Appalachia Book Company. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Andrew Henderson brings us a reimagined story of a traditional railroad disaster ballad. 

Also, a state delegate accused of enticing a minor has officially resigned from the House of Delegates.

And, over the weekend Gov. Patrick Morrisey formally requested that President Donald Trump issue an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for West Virginia following the severe storms and flash flooding that struck the state last week.   

Meanwhile, across north central West Virginia, cleanup efforts continue – with the help of scores of volunteers.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, tornadoes are notoriously unpredictable, making forecasting nearly impossible. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to improve forecast models. We listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public media program based in Pittsburgh, that reports on environmental issues in the region. 

Also, Del. David Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, who was charged last week with enticing a minor, has a preliminary hearing Monday before U.S. District Judge Frank Volk in Charleston. 

And, several hundred West Virginia National Guard members remain on hand in the north central part of the state, where Pleasants, Upshur and Lewis counties were among the hardest hit areas in last week’s severe weather. 

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

On this West Virginia Week, torrential rains flood the north-central part of the state – damaging homes, businesses and bridges – and claiming the lives of two people.  

A West Virginia delegate who is also a school teacher is facing criminal charges involving a student – and calls for his resignation. And – health officials are working hard to keep the number of cyclosporiasis cases in the state from growing. 

West Virginia also welcome more than 10,000 scouts for ten days filled with the kinds of adventures Almost Heaven is known for. 

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, Eric Douglas and Maria Young. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

After a disaster, can comics help set the record straight? 

Also, sifting through Hurricane Helene’s debris, one group tries to reunite keepsakes with their owners, including love letters.

And, a cafe in Virginia feeds the hungry and tries to destigmatize homelessness. For its outreach manager, whose brother lived on the streets for years, it’s personal.  

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

In This Episode:

• Comic Anthology About Hurricane Helene Out Now
• Recovering Keepsakes After Hurricane Helene
• Open Door Café Supports, Destigmatizes Unhoused Community
• 100 Days In Appalachia Looks To Youth For Future Of America
• The Dental Health Gap In W.Va.
• Bats Save Farmers Billions Of Dollars, But They’re In Danger
• Designing Dignity Through Care Managers

Comic Anthology About Hurricane Helene Out Now

Last year, we reported on the Appalachia Comics Project, which was raising money to produce a graphic novel featuring stories told by Hurricane Helene survivors and illustrated and produced by comics professionals. 

Now, nearly two years after the storm, the book is out. It’s called Islands in the Sky: A People’s History of Hurricane Helene. We revisit host Mason Adams' interview with Andrew Aydin, who conceived the project. He’d previously served as an aide to Congressman John Lewis and co-authored the comic trilogy March about Lewis’ role in the civil rights movement. That work informed his view on the power of comics as he got to work after Helene.  

Recovering Keepsakes After Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene left behind millions of cubic yards of debris in western North Carolina. Most of that is trash, but every so often, clean-up crews find something personal: a stuffed animal, a coffee mug or a love letter.

Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Laura Hackett reports on one group’s efforts to return some of those treasured keepsakes to the people who lost them.  

Open Door Café Supports, Destigmatizes Unhoused Community

Appalachians sure love their gardens. And it’s not just homeowners who grow them. At Open Door Café in Wytheville, Virginia, gardening is a way to feed the hungry while breaking down the stigma of homelessness.

Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story about digging into the roots and connecting to more than just the land. 

100 Days In Appalachia Looks To Youth For Future Of America

This month marked the United States’ 250th anniversary. Around the nation, there was a lot of remembrance of our history. But also consideration about its future. That will ultimately be shaped by younger generations. 

WVPB’s Chris Schulz spoke with 100 Days in Appalachia Director of Video Nick Curran and Editor-in-Chief Jesse Wright about a project to amplify their voices. 

The Dental Health Gap In W.Va.

Many Appalachians can’t access affordable dental care. The problem is especially acute in West Virginia. State data shows by third grade, more than half of kids show signs of tooth decay. And more than 10% of older adults have had all their teeth extracted. 

In the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits a mobile dental clinic with public health hygienist Bobbi Muto.

Bats Save Farmers Billions Of Dollars, But They're In Danger

A lot of people are afraid of bats, but they’re an important part of the ecosystem and beneficial to our agriculture. But due to climate change and disease, bat populations are declining.

WVPB’s Eric Douglas reports for the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. 

Designing Dignity Through Care Managers

As baby boomers continue to age, more Gen X and Millennial adults are finding themselves becoming caregivers for their parents. In Pittsburgh, the city’s major health systems are partnering with federal agencies to design a new program aimed at keeping seniors at home for as long as possible. 

It’s a strategy Japan has had in place for more than two decades. 

In this installment of the "Designing Dignity" series, WESA’s Kiley Koscinski looks at how Japan’s care managers bridge medical and social support. 

--

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Mary Hott, Hello June, Paul Loomis and Ron Mullennex. 

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 Ibby Caputo. 

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, Open Door Café in Wytheville, Virginia uses gardening as a way to feed the hungry while breaking down the stigma of homelessness. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story about digging into the roots and connecting to more than just the land.  

Also, hundreds of first responders and emergency crews are on the ground in the areas of West Virginia hardest hit by Tuesday’s storms.

And, education leaders in West Virginia have taken action following the arrest and charging of a Fayette County teacher for enticing a minor.

Finally, a statewide virtual conference next month will look at ethical issues around addiction recovery.

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 is our producer.

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

Housing is becoming less affordable for many people. As a result, more cities and towns grapple with growing homeless populations. Hundreds of cities across the nation now have laws that prohibit camping on public property to discourage encampments and illegal activity. 

On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderates a community conversation in Morgantown about that city’s approach to housing. Morgantown is one of five West Virginia cities with a public camping ban. Local advocates say there are twice as many homeless people as there are shelter beds available. 

This year, lawmakers did not have the votes to pass a statewide camping ban, but some leaders say that’s a better approach than patchwork local measures. 

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

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.

“We’re seeing a report card on how well our society is doing at caring for other people, and we’re not getting a very good grade. Instead of dealing with that fundamental problem, a lot of people don’t want to examine it because it requires work, introspection and a recognition that decades of bad policy have brought us here.”

— The Rev. Zac Morton

“Every single person who is unhoused is unique. There is no one way people behave and no single reason people end up in this situation, other than the fact that we do not have affordable, low-income housing. Once someone becomes unhoused, that experience itself is often traumatic, making it even harder to do everything required to get back into housing.”

— Laura Jones

“A lot of the things people see that make them uncomfortable are symptoms of homelessness. If we educate ourselves and meet people, we humanize them. Once you meet people, they are not scary anymore. They are people. They are your neighbors, your community members and your friends.”

— Erin Shelton

“These policies were made without an understanding of the consequences. There was no plan that said, ‘We are going to put this camping ban in place, and these services will be available instead.’ There was none of that. It was simply, ‘We’re done.’”

— Mindy Thorne

“I don’t think that more people jailed is necessarily a measure of success. But if vandalism goes down, if syringe litter decreases, if people stop having their homes broken into and their packages stolen, I think those are indicators that the camping ban would be working.”

— Del. Geno Chiarelli

“When elected officials make policy in response to a community’s discomfort and fear of people experiencing homelessness, they are not actually responding. They are reacting.”

— Erin Shelton

Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group

“Part of the homelessness question is who we are willing to see in our communities, who we turn away from and what kind of community we want to be.”

— Trey Kay

On this West Virginia Morning, many people struggle to find affordable housing, and more cities and towns now grapple with growing homeless populations. On the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderates a public conversation in Morgantown about that city’s housing approach. Local advocates say there are twice as many homeless people as there are shelter beds. But some elected leaders say there’s a better approach than patchwork local measures.

Also, a state delegate from Fayette County has been charged with enticing a minor. We have the latest.

And, with high winds and heavy rains across much of the state Tuesday, the town of Weston was among the hardest hit. 

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

On this West Virginia Morning, there are many insects that threaten West Virginia's agriculture and bother us when we're trying to enjoy time outdoors. But with its distinctive Dalmatian pattern and splash of red, the spotted lanternfly stands out for its ability to threaten dozens of plants, commercial and domestic. 

Chris Schulz spoke with WVU Extension entomologist Carlos Quesada to learn more about the insect and how to stop its spread. 

Also, late Tuesday night,Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for all 55 counties. Much of the state was pummeled by heavy storms, torrential rains and high winds.  The National Weather Service in Charleston reports the northern and central parts of the state were hardest hit, with between three and five-and-a-half inches of rain in Lewis County, and as much as seven inches of rain reported in Upshur County.

And, regional electric grid operator PJM recently wrapped up its competitive bidding process for power in 2028, and the PSC is looking into rules for the future.

Finally, thousands of scouts are descending on West Virginia for Scouting America’s 2026 National Jamboree.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, a look at how the hot, humid weather of summer is a prime season for the sometimes disease-carrying ticks. 

Also, severe weather is forecast for today, the Department of Human Services has a new secretary and soon, West Virginia will have a new teacher of the year. 

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

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

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, an unattractive, slimy, two-foot salamander may hold the key to detecting healthy water ways in West Virginia. 

The Eastern Hellbender is now officially known as Kentucky’s first-ever state amphibian. The species was once abundant along the waterways of Appalachia, but it’s struggled to maintain a foothold amid climate change and human activity. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WKYU's Hope Heffley has more on conservation efforts across the region.

Also a severe and long-lasting gastrointestinal illness is on the rise in West Virginia. The state Department of Health now shows there have been 139 identified cases of cyclosporiasis across the state, up from 69 less than a week ago.

And candidates for the Fifth Family Court Circuit, which covers Mason, Jackson and Wirt Counties, have just about one month to get their applications submitted to replace Judge Constance Thomas, who will retire at the end of August. 

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

On this West Virginia Week, weekend storms may help clear the smokey air, Huntington City Council approves Flock cameras and how Fentanyl may have made its way into the country.   

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Morning, if you’ve ever seen the eye-catching ‘Bus On A Rock’ in the New River and wondered why – and how – it got there, we have some answers for you.

And, West Virginia has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, workforce participation rate in the country. A key goal for West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program plan is to improve health outcomes to get more people back into the workforce.

Also West Virginia’s busiest bridge is getting some needed repairs, and the Public Service Commission of West Virginia has opened an investigation into water pressure standards.

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, Maria Young.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, the client of a Charleston attorney says the DEA allowed millions of doses of potentially deadly Fentanyl into the United States.

In 2023 and 2024, the Sinaloa Cartel brought millions of doses of fentanyl into the U.S. mostly across the border into New Mexico. Those pills then headed east.   

Charleston attorney and member of the House of Delegates, Tristan Leavitt represents federal whistleblowers. His client, DEA Special Agent David Howell, says the agency allowed millions of pills to come into the U.S. as part of an operation to capture cartel leaders at the direction of the New Mexico U.S. Attorney.   

News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Leavitt to discuss the case. 

Also, a data center development is facing state intervention for failing to prevent flooding of neighboring properties.

And a federal judge in Eastern Kentucky has escalated the penalties he imposed on a coal company owned by U.S. 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.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, it’s hard enough to connect a baseball and bat in mid-air. Imagine doing it when you can’t see.

In beep baseball, blind athletes rely on sound to hit the ball and run to a base. Last month (June), the East Louisville Lions Club hosted the Indianapolis Thunder, an adult beep baseball team, for a demonstration. Emily Chen-Newton with LPM News via the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom has more on the sport where players keep their ears on the ball.

Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting an outbreak of intestinal illness in 31 states – including West Virginia and a weapons manufacturer is coming to the eastern panhandle.

And a proposed advanced recycling facility in eastern Kanawha County is raising concerns for local residents.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, humidity and dewpoint can have a big impact on how we experience summer heat. Every week, in a segment we call Science Behind the Forecast, the Appalachia Mid South Newsroom’s Bill Burton and meteorologist Tawana Andrew break down what we know - and what we don't - about the climate and weather in the region.

And the Allegheny Front based in Pittsburgh, a public radio program that reports on environmental issues, looks at the native, spike-covered hawthorn and how its long, sharp thorns contribute to its vulnerable status.

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

On this West Virginia Week, the state is under a flood watch through Sunday, the fire in Parkersburg is under investigation and a class action against the state’s foster care system will move forward. 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

On this West Virginia Morning, not much has been known about Appalachia’s contributions to the Underground Railroad – until now.

Before the Civil War, slaves escaped to the free north through the underground railroad. Cicero Fain is a historian at Marshall University documenting the region’s Black history through his Appalachian Freedom Heritage Initiative. Fain spoke with Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams about documenting dozens of previously unknown underground railroad sites throughout our region.  

Also, Secretary of State Kris Warner is maintaining his position to not share voter rolls with the federal government, despite new threats of legal action. In Parkersburg, the remnants of a warehouse fire are finally out and cleanup and investigations begin.

And it promises to be a stormy weekend and as Maria Young reports, a flood watch is in effect for much of the state, through Sunday morning.  

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, 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 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, affordable dental care is a little-talked-about challenge low-income families face in this state, but there is an effort underway to change that.

West Virginia is home to many people who cannot access affordable dental care. State data shows by third grade - more than half of kids show signs of tooth decay. And more than 10 percent of older adults have had all their teeth extracted. From the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits a mobile dental clinic with public health hygienist Bobbi Muto.

Also the state Board of Education approves a partial intervention into Harrison County Schools as it grapples with overstaffing and a reluctance to cut positions, an issue many counties are facing after COVID-19 era funding ended.

And a new manufacturing firm is coming to Wood County – and bringing with it millions of dollars in investments and jobs to support data center development.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, many people are looking towards the country's future now that the nation's 250th anniversary is behind us. It will ultimately be shaped by young adults that don't always have a place at the table. 100 Days in Appalachia director of video Nick Curran and editor-in-chief Jesse Wright recently sat down with reporter Chris Schulz to discuss a project to capture voices and perspectives about what comes next.

Also, a lawsuit brought by the state of West Virginia against Apple alleging the company’s business practices safeguard child sexual abuse materials will remain in state courts.

And a festival in Shepherdstown is continuing a tradition of developing new American theater.

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

On this West Virginia Morning a new musical, written right here in our region, takes a look at a small Ohio town, just across the river from West Virginia, that played a significant role in the development of the nation.

The town of Marietta, Ohio played a pivotal role in the future of the United States and Ohio statehood – keeping the state slave free 60 years before the Civil War. But the vote passed by one vote.  Singer songwriters Larry Groce and Todd Burge have written a musical that dives into that history. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Groce to find out more. 

Also new fish stocking opportunities may give anglers a reason to get out to their favorite spot, and the warehouse that burned in Parkersburg Sunday had a history of hazardous waste fires.

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

On this West Virginia Week, bats play a critical role in our ecosystems and agriculture. We’ll hear how their numbers are declining in the face of a changing climate and disease.

Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams also brings us the story of pioneering artist Oscar Micheaux, an African-American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s.

In this episode, we also hear about a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States based on a West Virginia case. We learn about the state’s maternal and fiscal health. And with dangerous heat for the holiday weekend, we hear about how to avoid the dangers of dehydration.

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, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

In the 1920s, Oscar Micheaux was an entrepreneur filmmaker in western Virginia. He became a world-renowned director and producer.

Also, Kentucky’s poet laureate lives down the road from what has been called the country’s most lethal cryptid. Attempts to spot it have led to deaths. 

And, we talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby, who's passing on generations of kitchen wisdom to his niece.

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

In This Episode:

• How Oscar Micheaux Changed Filmmaking From Appalachia
• Playwright August Wilson's Life And Legacy
• Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage
• Kentucky Poet Laureate Talks Deadly Cryptids
• Baby Barn Owl That Left His Nest Too Soon
• Sharing Soul Food

How Oscar Micheaux Changed Filmmaking From Appalachia

One of America’s pioneering filmmakers had nothing to do with Hollywood but nevertheless left his mark on the emerging industry. Oscar Micheaux was a homesteader, who then turned his attention to making movies in the early 1900s. He was a Black man who made movies for Black audiences at a time when they weren't allowed into mainstream, white-only theaters. And for several pivotal years in the 1920s, he operated out of Roanoke, Virginia.

Host Mason Adams brings us this story.

Playwright August Wilson's Life And Legacy

Acclaimed playwright August Wilson was deeply influenced by his hometown of Pittsburgh. Wilson was the author of 10 plays collectively known as The Pittsburgh Cycle. They include the Pulitzer Prize winning plays Fences and The Piano Lesson. Now there’s a new book about him, titled August Wilson’s American Century, by University of Pittsburgh professor Lawrence Glasco, and it explores that deep influence with his hometown.

WESA’s Bill Driscoll spoke with Glasco.

Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took us to Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage. Angelo’s makes a craft sausage distributed throughout West Virginia, as well in southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. The recipe comes from the Calabria region of Italy, and it’s made in West Virginia. 

Kentucky Poet Laureate Talks Deadly Cryptids

Kentucky’s governor appoints a new poet laureate every two years. Last year, Gov. Andy Beshear named award-winning poet, essayist and teacher Kathleen Driskell to the post. Driskell’s poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Rattle and Appalachian Review, among others. She’s authored six poetry collections. Her most recent is Goat-Footed Gods.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Driskell about living next to the dead, and America’s most lethal cryptid.

Baby Barn Owl That Left His Nest Too Soon

The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro treats hundreds of injured animals every year, from possums, to eagles, to bear cubs. And even a fledgling barn owl that fell from its nest in a grain silo in Augusta County.

WMRA's Meredith McCool has more.

Sharing Soul Food

Soul food like cornbread, extra-cheesy mac-n-cheese and collard greens plays an important role in Black communities across Appalachia. In 2023, Folkways Fellow Vanessa Peña spoke with Xavier Oglesby, a master artist in soul food cooking from Beckley, West Virginia.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, Bennie Moten Kater, Tim Bing, Paul Loomis, John Inghram 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 and Chris Julin.

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, Inside Appalachia this week discusses the influence and contributions of Oscar Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s. Mason Adams speaks with Roanoke historian Jordan Bell about Micheaux's life and career.

Also, a private school has been put on probation and another has been permanently disqualified from participating in the Hope Scholarship program.

And, a new West Virginia business partnership is investing millions of dollars in the byproducts of coal mining.

Finally, the state of West Virginia has finished the fiscal year ahead of projections for revenue.  

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia has one of the highest percentages of elderly residents in the nation. As baby boomers grow elderly amidst a workforce crisis of caretakers, WESA's Kiley Koscinski reports that both the U.S. and Japan are considering robots as a potential solution as part of this “Designing Dignity” series.

Also the Supreme Court of the United States rules that West Virginia's law barring transgender women from girls' sports can stand, and hospital consolidations play a considerable role in the closures of labor and delivery services.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, as baby boomers in West Virginia and nationwide continue to age, more Gen X and Millennial adults are finding themselves as caregivers for their parents. Pittsburgh’s major health systems are designing a new program alongside federal agencies aimed at keeping seniors at home for as long as possible.  

It’s a strategy Japan has been exploring for more than two decades.  

In this “Designing Dignity” series, WESA’s Kiley Koscinski takes a look at how the country’s care managers bridge medical and social support. 

Also, southern West Virginia saw significant flooding last week and Kentucky saw even more over the weekend. But a system to detect rising water isn’t any closer to completion.

And, the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum is creating the largest labor history driving trail in the United States, and community members have a chance to shape how it will look.

Finally, West Virginia’s America250 celebration kicks off in just a few short days. We bring you a snapshot on what to expect.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, bats are the subject of myths and legends, often in a negative light. But that goes against the reality of their role in ecosystems, including critical agricultural services for humans. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Eric Douglas reports bat populations have dropped significantly in the face of a changing climate and disease. 

Also, Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe over the weekend was awarded the inaugural Freedom 250: Hometown Hero Award. Last November, Wolfe, and his partner U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, were on duty in Washington, D.C., when they were ambushed and shot. Specialist Beckstrom died from her injuries. Wolfe continues to recover.  

And, the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on a West Virginia case this week.

Finally, in a Saturday ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of devastating floods, the town of Clendenin received a $450,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant. 

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

On this West Virginia Week, the world’s largest transportable Ferris wheel arrives in Charleston, the SNAP ban on soda is blocked, and we look at an effort to expand local medical care through EMS. 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Some folks are working to preserve the memory of Bristol, Virginia’s Black Bottom, a largely African American community wiped out by urban renewal. 

Also, small food producers embrace digital technology for the humble farm stand.

And, kudzu; it’s coming for us. 

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

In This Episode:

• The Souls Of Bristol’s Black Bottom
• Roots Book Ban Reversed In Knox County, Tennessee
• Roadside Farmstand Gets An Upgrade
• State Regulators Audit Kentucky Power After 20 Years
• Volunteers Document Species In The Smoky Mountains
• Black Bears Are Migrating As Climate Change Threatens Habitat
• The Vine That Ate The South
• Herbicide Drones Are Killing Kudzu
• Herbalism In Appalachia

The Souls Of Bristol’s Black Bottom

Urban renewal was a 20^th century movement by local, state and federal governments to revitalize struggling cities. But Black neighborhoods and business districts were often sacrificed. In Bristol, Virginia, Black business owners ran barber shops, groceries and doctor’s offices in Black Bottom, which was leveled to make way for new streets and civic projects.

“The Souls of Bristol’s Black Bottom” is a partnership between Black in Appalachia and Virginia Humanities. The project uses interpretive signs, public art and digital storytelling to remember the community. Organizer and storyteller Tina McDaniel helps lead the project. She says learning about 'Black Bottom was a revelation.'

Host Mason Adams spoke to McDaniel about the project.

Roots Book Ban Reversed In Knox County, Tennessee

Knox County, Tennessee officials have reversed their decision to remove the book Roots from school libraries. In May, just a couple weeks prior, the book was banned by a school board committee.  

Written by Alex Haley, the novel follows generations of a Black family from enslavement in America in the 1700s through changes and upheavals to the second half of the 20^th century. Roots won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into an award-winning television miniseries. 

It was one of 124 titles that have been removed from library shelves in Knox County. In particular, school board members objected to a depiction of rape of an enslaved woman by a slaveholder. Public outcry to the ban was immediate.  

WPLN’s Camellia Burris reports.

Roadside Farmstand Gets An Upgrade

Roadside farmstands with fresh eggs or tomatoes are a common sight in Appalachia. They can be a way for people, especially rural women with kids at home, to support themselves economically. They often work on the honor system; there’s nobody there. Take a carton of berries and leave some cash. But the humble farm stand is changing to keep up with an increasingly cash-free society.

Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch recently visited a stand in Wythe County, Virginia.

State Regulators Audit Kentucky Power After 20 Years

Power bills have been rising across much of Appalachia. That’s the case in eastern Kentucky, too, and led to state regulators ordering an audit of Kentucky Power for the first time in more than 20 years.  

Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman met with a new coalition that hopes the audit could lead to lower bills.

Volunteers Document Species In The Smoky Mountains

For years, citizen scientists have been documenting plants and wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They do work the Park may not have capacity for, tracking changes in the ecosystem and helping us better understand Appalachia’s biodiversity. 

BPR and Grist reporter Katie Myers tagged along with a group of volunteers into the Smokies.

Black Bears Are Migrating As Climate Change Threatens Habitat

Black bear encounters are on the rise, and climate change is often a hidden culprit. 

WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports that Tennessee wildlife managers are working to promote peaceful coexistence.

The Vine That Ate The South

Kudzu is a leafy vine that has spread through the South and Appalachia, draping whole landscapes with its greenery. Some people find it beautiful, at least at first. But, it’s an invasive plant that can swallow entire sections of forests and choke out other plants. 

WUOT’s Jacqui Sieber has more on efforts to tackle the “vine that ate the South.”

Herbicide Drones Are Killing Kudzu

Goats aren’t the only tool to keep kudzu in check. In Kentucky, wildlife officials are testing whether new drone technology could help fight kudzu.

Michael Collins with WKYU has more.  

Herbalism In Appalachia

In the warm months, a lot of people stock up on roots and herbs to use as medicines. Some, they grow, and others, they find in the woods. Here in Appalachia, those remedies have been a path to wellness and independence for centuries.

Folkways Reporter Heather Duncan has more.

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

This week, we say goodbye to Kelley Libby. Kelley's been Inside Appalachia’s show editor since 2020 and was also a lead editor for the Folkways project. As much as anyone, Kelley has helped shape Inside Appalachia into the show that it is. Kelley, we can’t thank you enough. Good luck with your next adventure!

And, introducing Irina Zhorov, who will take over as show editor. We’re glad to have her.  

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Jennifer Goren and Molly Born. 

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, urban renewal in the last century was supposed to revitalize struggling cities, but it often sacrificed Black neighborhoods and business districts, like Black Bottom in Bristol, Virginia. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with organizer Tina McDaniel about “The Souls of Bristol’s Black Bottom,” a project in Bristol that remembers the community through interpretive signs, public art and digital storytelling. McDaniel says learning about Black Bottom was a revelation.    

Also, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) has scheduled a public comment hearing for construction of a gas-electric generation plant in Monongalia County and three solar energy projects.

And, as West Virginia prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, construction is underway on the Capitol grounds, where the world’s largest transportable Ferris wheel is going up.

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, federal cuts and changes to state law focused on Medicaid programs could undermine West Virginia’s drug addiction and treatment system for 50,000 residents. In the latest encore episode of Us & Them, which was recently honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid supports recovery organizations and what that work looks like.  

Also a new data center is announced in Wheeling, changes to Medicaid benefit requirements and flooding in Boone County.

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

This year, West Virginia lawmakers made significant changes to drug and alcohol treatment programs funded by Medicaid, which many people use. The new legislation ties Medicaid payments to patient outcomes rather than the number of patients served.

The Mountain State has the nation's highest overdose rates, and overdose death rates among Black residents exceed those of any other group. In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid funding supports organizations working in recovery and what that work looks like on the ground.

This episode of Us & Them, recently honored with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is presented with support from The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.

"Every time we had discussions, I was doing focus group research. We started talking about kids, the challenges they face, and other issues in our communities. Everybody kept saying, 'the real problem is them drugs' — that’s exactly how they said it. So, we decided to do something about it. We began by implementing prevention programs and training community health workers, and then we trained them in peer support as recovery coaches."

— Rev. James Patterson, founder and president/CEO of the Partnership of African American Churches.

"Every day, people face subtle but constant annoyances because of their color — especially Black people. They are insulted, invalidated and sometimes physically, verbally and mentally assaulted just for being Black. I see this as a double malady that people must overcome daily, particularly when they’re also dealing with addiction and racism. The stress they endure is something others rarely experience.

We are a licensed behavioral health center that provides treatment for substance use disorder. We offer a residential treatment facility, medication-assisted treatment and multiple sober living facilities."

— Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches, Charleston, WV

"I had a teacher who was trying to help me, to show me the right way. I was one of those kids with ADD—I could never sit still—so I spent most of my time in the office. I don't think he understood the full extent of my problem, or he wouldn’t have paddled me as he did. I knew I had issues when I tried to break into his house.

Looking back, I wonder why I did it all. Part of it was the divorce—my dad was never around, having started another family—so I never had the support system other kids had. I felt like I fell through the cracks in Orchard Manor. Sometimes I’d wake up in the old county jail, not even knowing why I was there, beat up and bleeding. I knew I had a serious situation on my hands."

— Kevin Watkins, peer support coach trained by the Partnership of African American Churches

“Residential treatment programs in West Virginia have grown dramatically. Back in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the state had about 150 to 200 treatment beds. Today, there are more than 1,700. Providers are expanding services on the theory that Medicaid funding will continue.

The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government — with Congress and the president’s approval — while West Virginia must supply matching dollars. The Partnership of African American Churches is funded similarly; as they apply for grants from the Bureau of Behavioral Health or the federal government, they have opportunities aligned with their expertise. Otherwise, their core funding is no different from any other addiction treatment provider."

— Robert Hansen, former director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy.

On this West Virginia Morning, a $1 million initiative through the Rural Health Transformation Program aims to help rural EMS agencies expand access to health care in rural and underserved areas of West Virginia. It focuses on connecting patients with care earlier – before chronic illnesses become acute. Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh talked with Assistant News Director Maria Young to explain how the program is designed to work – and who it will focus on first.

Also, a federal judge has blocked West Virginia’s ban on buying soda with federal benefits.

And, on the 10th anniversary of the devastating and deadly flood that hit West Virginia in 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced West Virginia will receive nearly $4 million for flood mitigation. 

Finally, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced charges involving health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes against 455 defendants nationwide – including some in West Virginia.

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

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

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, one in 10 Americans now say they are a caregiver for a parent age 65 and older, according to recent Pew research. Reporters Blake Farmer and Cara Anthony with our partner HealthQ explore why embracing the title of “caregiver” matters—and how recognition and support can make a difference in this phase of life.

Also, some state lawmakers express support for a federal ban on greyhound racing, a new segment of Corridor H opens and details of the America250 Capital City Celebration emerge.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, freshwater mussels are scattered throughout waterways in Kentucky and neighboring states like Tennessee and West Virginia, playing a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WKYU’s Hope Heffley has more on why those populations have dwindled over the years.

And Corridor H adds a new segment while the state's Rural Health Transformation initiative focuses on rural emergency medical services.

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

On this West Virginia Week, an heir files suit to keep his community hospital open, disparities in the distribution of school choice vouchers, and a West Virginia lawmaker is among those targeted in White House UFC fight plot. 

We also discuss how a simple conversation with his mom led one state senator to uncover his towns hidden history... and, a not-so-cuddly creature is making its way into Appalachia. 

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, Eric Douglas and Maria Young. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

Ballads tell stories about all kinds of real-life events, but after Hurricane Helene, one group of ballad singers felt some topics were still too raw. 

Also, the author of a new book on ancient Ohio credits a former grad student with introducing him to the region’s mysterious earthworks. 

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

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

In This Episode:

• Ballad Singing After Hurricane Helene
• How To Protect Amphibians Against Climate Change
• Tornado Destroys Orchid Restoration In Southern Kentucky
• Traveler's Guide To Ancient Ohio
• Abandoned Gas Wells In W.Va.
• Tennessee Town Struggles To Reopen Its Only Hospital
• The Legacy Of Norman Jordan
• Rising Temperatures Bring Armadillos To Kentucky

Ballad Singing After Hurricane Helene

When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina in 2024, it took lives and upended communities. A community of ballad singers lost a place where they could share their tradition. The storm set them back, but it didn’t stop them. And what might’ve seemed lost could be restored.  

From Marshall, North Carolina, Sarah Melotte reports for the Rural Remix, a podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies.

How To Protect Amphibians Against Climate Change

Climate change has affected the seasons and made weather less predictable. And severe storms and flooding are causing damage to wildlife habitat. Kylie Frederick is a journalism student at West Virginia University (WVU), and reports that protecting amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, can start at home. 

Tornado Destroys Orchid Restoration In Southern Kentucky

Researchers have spent nearly 20 years restoring a threatened species of orchid in southern Kentucky. Those efforts were disrupted after a tornado last spring. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Lily Burris went to Mount Victory to learn about the recovery.

Traveler's Guide To Ancient Ohio

Thousands of years ago, Indigenous people created hundreds of earthen monuments in what is now Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Some were burial mounds. Others were curious shapes and designs whose purposes are not entirely understood.  

John E. Hancock, a professor of architecture and design at the University of Cincinnati, has spent years studying these earthworks. Recently, he published Traveler's Guide to Ancient Ohio. If you want to visit these ancient sites, it’s a good place to start.  

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hancock about the book. 

Abandoned Gas Wells In W.Va.

According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), there are more than 6,000 abandoned or orphaned natural gas wells in the state. But some advocates say that number is low.

WVPB’s News Director Eric Douglas visited a few.   

Tennessee Town Struggles To Reopen Its Only Hospital

As the health care industry cuts unprofitable rural hospitals, small towns across Appalachia are paying the price. 

WPLN’s Pierce Gentry takes us to Jellico, Tennessee, where the local government is struggling to reopen its only hospital.

The Legacy Of Norman Jordan

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.

Rising Temperatures Bring Armadillos To Kentucky

In 2023, we reported on the appearance of armadillos as far north as Virginia. Now, they’re being found in Kentucky, which is seen as another indicator of rising temperatures in the region. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Giselle Rhoden has more on how the species has made its way north from South America.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Hello June, Paul Loomis, Jeff Ellis 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. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave.

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, Indigenous people created hundreds of earthen monuments in what is now Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. John E. Hancock, a professor of architecture and design at the University of Cincinnati, spent years studying these earthworks. He published a guidebook for visiting them. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Hancock about the book.  

Also, a West Virginia lawmaker was on a target list created by the group accused of plotting to attack the UFC fights at the White House Sunday night.

And, a McDowell County resident whose great-grandfather donated the land for what is now the Welch Community Hospital has filed a lawsuit he hopes will keep the hospital open.  

Finally, a new national analysis has identified disparities in the distribution of school choice vouchers in West Virginia.

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

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

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, state Sen. Ryan Weld has written a history of Wellsburg through a unique lens -- he focused on 14 homes in the town and the people who lived in them. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Weld to learn more about his project.

Also lawmakers are speaking out against major energy infrastructure projects and a new report identifies three strategies for economic growth in West Virginia.

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

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

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, an Appalachian distillery has rediscovered an old technique for aging their bourbon and whiskey products.

Also, competitive cycling returns to Charleston, state funds to help children affected by the opioid epidemic and lawmakers continue to look at school funding.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, the nine-banded armadillo has become an indicator of rising temperatures in Kentucky and the surrounding region. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Giselle Rhoden has more on how the species has made its way north from South America.

Also rural emergency medical services have an opportunity to receive Rural Health Transformation funds, and U.S. electricity generation from solar surpassed coal for the first time in May.

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

On this West Virginia Week, the unhoused population in the state declines, child well-being remains the same, and just how many abandoned gas wells are there? 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

This week, we’re revisiting a show featuring storytellers out loud in front of audiences. Folks like five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, Bil Lepp.

Also, musicians Anna & Elizabeth, whose storytelling used something known as a crankie.

And, we’ll head to the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

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

In This Episode:

• The Crankie Comes To NC: What It Is And Why People Freak Out When They See One
• A Triangle Of Skunks
• Sweet Tea And Red Wine

The Crankie Comes To NC: What It Is And Why People Freak Out When They See One

In 2021, Inside Appalachia dedicated an episode to storytellers. And to their inventiveness. For example, have you ever heard of a “Crankie?”  

Crankies are cloth and cut-paper scrolls. They’re an old-fashioned way to share images that go along with stories. And you can pair them with music. Think a small, tiny theater, with someone turning a crank to show pictures.  

During their multi-year collaboration, musicians Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle used crankies. They would turn them alongside their Appalachian ballad singing. Host Mason Adams saw Anna and Elizabeth perform at the Ferrum Folklife Festival in Virginia and remembers how the crankies let him follow the story, while their harmonies raised goosebumps.

This story was recorded back in 2013, when Anna & Elizabeth were still performing together. It was produced by Laura Candler for WUNC.

A Triangle Of Skunks

Bil Lepp is probably best known as the five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest. The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage called him, “a side-splittingly funny man.” Lepp lives in Charleston, West Virginia, and he’s one of our region’s most famous storytellers. Back in 2019, he told a story about summer camp and a family of skunks. He performed the story “Skunks” during a Mountain Stage performance at the West Virginia Culture Center.

Sweet Tea And Red Wine

Michael Reno Harrell is a professional storyteller from Burke County, North Carolina. When we spoke to Harrell in 2021, we asked him which story he wanted us to play. This was during the social distancing part of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he hadn’t seen some of his family in a while. So, he chose a story about his mom, his sister-in-law and his aunt Eloise. It’s called “Sweet Tea and Red Wine.”

The National Storytelling Festival is October 2-4, 2026, in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps, Michael Reno Harrell and Anna and Elizabeth. 

This episode was originally produced by Roxy Todd with help from Zander Aloi. Jade Artherhults was associate producer, and Andrea Billups served as executive producer.  

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

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

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, this week’s Inside Appalachia features storytellers from around the region, including author, television host and five-time West Virginia Liars Contest winner Bil Lepp. Here he is back in 2019, telling a story during a Mountain Stage performance at the West Virginia Culture Center.

Also, state regulators were in Morgantown Wednesday evening to hear from the public about a proposed transmission line project in northern West Virginia.

And, a B-minus report card may not sound like a lot when it comes to maternal mental health, but it is an improvement for West Virgina.

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 is our producer.

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

Daniel Johnston, a visual artist and singer-songwriter from West Virginia made his mark in the indie music scene of the1980s. His raw and unpolished style earned him a label as an outsider artist, and a place in the state’s Music Hall of Fame. 

Johnston recorded his best-known songs on cassette in his parents’ basement in Hancock County. Songwriters saw past the lo-fi production values and musicians like Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain championed his work. 

Johnston was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his 20s, and as his fame grew, his mental health struggles increased. He died in 2019 at age 58, leaving hundreds of songs and drawings. 

In this award-winning episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with family members, musicians and others about Daniel’s life and legacy.

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

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.

The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization in Charleston, dedicated to documenting and preserving the lasting contributions West Virginians have made to all genres of music. Its mission is to recognize the many influential musicians who have shaped the American musical spectrum — from country, classical and jazz to rock, R&B, gospel and traditional — and eventually establish a permanent facility to house a museum for recordings and memorabilia. For now, the Hall of Fame is headquartered in the Charleston Town Center Mall. Some of the notable inductees are: Bill Withers, Billy Edd Wheeler, George Crumb, Hazel Dickens, Red Sovine, Kathy Mattea, Tim O'Brien, Little Jimmy Dickens, Fred "Sonic" Smith and Barbara Nissman.

Daniel Johnston was born in Sacramento, California, in 1961, the youngest of Mabel and Bill Johnston’s five children. A few years later, the family moved to Bill’s home state of West Virginia, settling near Chester in the northern panhandle—where this photo was taken on Jan. 1, 1969, when Daniel was eight years old.

Family members say that as a kid, all Daniel wanted to do was draw cartoon figures and record songs. He dropped out of college twice, struggled to keep a job and often spent his paycheck on comic books.

His drawings range from simple black-and-white sketches to brightly colored depictions of imaginary beings and superheroes. His songs center on unrequited love, loneliness, the struggle between good and evil, and his battles with mental illness.

When Johnston was in his 20s, he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. His career was often interrupted by lengthy stays in psychiatric units. 

Shelly Reed is Daniel Johnston’s cousin. She grew up in Chester, and still lives there today. Reed says Chester is known for two things: Daniel Johnston and the “World’s Largest Teapot,” a tourist attraction since 1938. Johnston, famous for his music and his visual art, created much of that art while growing up near Chester. But many landmarks of his presence—including his childhood home and murals he painted at the high school—are gone.

“People in town… I don’t know, they even erased his stuff. He drew a picture of a bear and other things at the high school. I’m sure they wish they had it now, because he became so famous. But they colored over it, painted over it. Have you seen his yearbook? He drew a lot of pictures in it. He was always drawing pictures—always… After he died, my daughter and I stayed at their house for two weeks because they were overwhelmed with selling all the things people wanted after he passed away. I was in shock. I thought, ‘I cannot believe people are paying anywhere from $100 to $800.’ It’s just kind of crazy that I’m related to him… You know, he was just a kid from Chester, West Virginia, who liked playing the piano, writing down every thought in his head and drawing every picture that came to mind—and here he is, famous.”

— Shelly Reed, Daniel Johnston’s cousin

Daniel Johnston’s most famous self-produced album was “Hi, How Are You?” It gained worldwide recognition among musicians, including Sonic Youth, Beck, Yo La Tengo, Pearl Jam and Wilco. The lo-fi cassette featured one of Johnston’s most recognizable characters on the cover, a googly-eyed frog-like alien Johnston named Jeremiah the Innocent. The late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain made the frog image iconic when he wore a T-shirt featuring it to the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Here, Johnston’s cousin Shelly Reed shows “Us & Them” host Trey Kay a vinyl copy of “Hi, How Are You?” at her home in Chester.

Irwin Chusid is a music historian and journalist who has been a free-form DJ at WFMU in New Jersey for more than 50 years. He frequently featured Daniel Johnston’s music on his shows. Chusid coined the term “outsider artist,” and he considers Johnston’s work to be in that category. 

Chusid first discovered lo-fi music when a friend played him “Philosophy of the World,” the 1969 album by the three-sister group The Shaggs. His ensuing  fascination with outsider music led him to write “Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music,” which includes Johnston. Chusid said Johnston is in a league of his own.

“[Daniel Johnston] has pop appeal and a huge body of work—songs people can cover or sing. Anyone can listen and hear a hook, a melody, a verse, a chorus, or something unusual in the lyrics. They can hear Daniel’s soul in that music. And that applies to every—can I use this word?—‘great’ outsider musician: They’re expressing their soul.”

— Irwin Chusid, music historian and journalist.

Family members describe Daniel as someone who wanted to draw and play music all the time. Daniel’s mother Mabel told filmmaker Jeff Feurzeig in his award-winning 2005 documentary, “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” that “he didn't want to do any of his chores like help mow the lawn or wash the car or any of those things.” She added that she had to “settle that.” Daniel recorded arguments with her on his cassette player and sometimes used them in songs like “Brainwash” and “Mabel’s Grievances.” He also made films spoofing her. Dick Johnston said they were brought up in a Christian home, and his mother objected to some of Daniel’s antics.

"The earliest dispute that arose about what he was doing had more to do with his art than his music, maybe. He was drawing these dead dogs' eyeballs. And you could find these things all over the county for the longest time because he and his friends were putting them everywhere. And mother thought that was distasteful. I've never heard them comment on the songs except to say that they are very good and that they thought that they were a little on the depressing side."

— Dick Johnston, only brother and former manager of Daniel Johnston and the manager of his estate.

Listen to Daniel Johnston’s song “Walking The Cow.”

Watch Daniel Johnston’s perform “I Live My Broken Dreams” in Austin, TX on MTV in 1985.

In 1983, Dick invited Daniel to spend the summer at his home near Houston, thinking that would help Daniel get on his feet. Dick said Daniel got a job at AstroWorld. But a few months later, Daniel moved in with a sister in San Marcos, south of Austin. Soon after, Daniel disappeared and skipped town with a traveling carnival. Dick said Daniel thought family members were going to put him in a psychiatric hospital because of his bipolar disorder. 

Five months later, the carnival stopped in Austin and Daniel chose to stay. He got a job at a McDonald’s and passed out his homemade cassettes to anyone who showed an interest. 

He gave a cassette to Austin-based musician and singer-songwriter Kathy McCarty, whose band, Glass Eye, was a favorite in Austin’s growing live music scene. McCarty said she got a lot of cassettes from people seeking to open for them.

“This weird guy came up to me and gave me a cassette tape. He was clearly dying of nervous energy—he could barely bring himself to talk to me. I took his cassette and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll listen to it.’ It was ‘Hi, How Are You?’ I listened to about two songs and thought, ‘My God, this guy’s a genius.’ We didn’t even practice that day; all we did was listen to his tape over and over. I think we scheduled half an hour for him to play six or seven songs. He rushed through three, then ran off stage. He went to the bathroom, climbed out the window and took off.”

— Kathy McCarty, musician and visual artist

Daniel’s local popularity led to his appearance on an episode of “The Cutting Edge” on the popular music video cable station MTV in the summer of 1985. By that fall, McCarty said Johnston suffered a psychotic episode in which he violently attacked his manager after which he spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Austin. His father, a former WWII pilot, flew to Austin to take Daniel back to West Virginia after another psychotic break. His mental health continued to deteriorate. During a trip to New York City to record his first studio album, “1990,” he assaulted another musician and was briefly hospitalized. Following a recording trip to Maryland, Daniel got into an altercation with a woman in Chester who ended up jumping out of the window of her second-story apartment to escape Daniel after he kicked down the front door. He told a judge he was trying to save the woman from a demon. The judge sent him to a psychiatric hospital in Weston, WV, where he stayed for some time before he was released into the custody of his parents. Daniel would spend a total of five years in mental health institutions over the course of his lifetime.

“Dave, here I am on MTV holding up my tape, ‘Hi How Are You,’ and they're recording me tonight, I'm on MTV. Remember when we used to watch MTV back home? Look, I'm on MTV, Baby!”

– Daniel Johnston, speaking on an MTV promo for “The Cutting Edge”

Kathy McCarty began working on “Dead Dog’s Eyeball: Songs of Daniel Johnston” after Daniel was hospitalized in Weston. She said she recorded his songs so people could hear the music in a more relatable way. She accomplished that goal: The album was well-received, and one track, “Living Life,” appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 romantic drama “Before Sunrise,” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

“Oftentimes people used to ask me in interviews, do you think that his mental illness is like, what makes him such a great songwriter? And I'd be like, ‘no, if he had not been mentally ill, it would have been much better.’ His mental illness - it stood in his way.”

— Kathy McCarty

Daniel continued to record, often collaborating with other musicians. His eighteenth and final album was issued in 2012 but his most enduring work was the material from the 1980s, much of it from West Virginia.

His dad, and later, his brother Dick, managed him. They toured with him, booking local artists to accompany him. Daniel eventually stopped playing guitar or piano because of tremors from the medications he took. 

In 2017, Daniel announced he would retire from performing. He did a final, five-date tour. Each stop featured a different band influenced by his music.

Jeff Tweedy, the frontman of Wilco, and his son backed up Daniel at the Old Vic in Chicago. A video of the concert shows Daniel sitting in a chair, reading his lyrics off a music stand. Both hands grip the microphone to steady his shaking body. 

Watch Daniel Johnston perform with Jeff Tweedy and his son at the Old Vic in Chicago in 2017. 

Tweedy will induct Daniel Johnston into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and perform at the ceremony. He said it’s a great honor.

If it was up to me he'd be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or he'd be in every state's Hall of Fame. I don't know, I just think that you know I think that there are a lot of good reasons to keep his music alive and keep a focus on the art that he made.— Jeff Tweedy, of the band Wilco

Daniel continued to record, often collaborating with other musicians. His eighteenth and final album was issued in 2012 but his most enduring work was the material from the 1980s, much of it from West Virginia.

His dad, and later, his brother Dick, managed him. They toured with him, booking local artists to accompany him. Daniel eventually stopped playing guitar or piano because of tremors from the medications he took. 

In 2017, Daniel announced he would retire from performing. He did a final, five-date tour. Each stop featured a different band influenced by his music.

Jeff Tweedy, the frontman of Wilco, and his son backed up Daniel at the Old Vic in Chicago. A video of the concert shows Daniel sitting in a chair, reading his lyrics off a music stand. Both hands grip the microphone to steady his shaking body. 

Watch Daniel Johnston perform with Jeff Tweedy and his son at the Old Vic in Chicago in 2017. 

Tweedy will induct Daniel Johnston into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and perform at the ceremony. He said it’s a great honor.

If it was up to me he'd be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or he'd be in every state's Hall of Fame. I don't know, I just think that you know I think that there are a lot of good reasons to keep his music alive and keep a focus on the art that he made.

— Jeff Tweedy, of the band Wilco

Daniel Johnston performed outside the U.S. at venues in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. In 2010, he toured Europe with the B.E.A.M. Orchestra, an 11-piece outfit from Holland.  Live recordings from that tour are on Daniel’s 2010 album “Beam Me Up!”

Dick Johnston manages Daniel’s estate. He said proceeds from the sales of Daniel’s drawings and other merchandise pay for the upkeep of his voluminous archives and legacy-building projects. Dick said he’d like to develop a cable or television series based on Daniel’s life. 

Daniel’s visual art is also in the spotlight. The art publisher Rizzoli will soon release “Daniel Johnston,” a 400-page book spanning four decades of Johnston’s  work.

Daniel is also remembered through the Hi, How Are You Foundation, a non-profit co-founded by Tom Gimbel, who managed Daniel in the 1990s. The foundation’s “Hi, How Are You Project” educates young people worldwide about mental health through community-building events. 

For a kid who started out making cassette tapes in his family’s basement, that’s quite a legacy.   

“OK, even if you don’t like outsider music, you’re missing something in the human experience if you’re not listening to Daniel Johnston. He’s a deeply philosophical commentator on the world, society, life and our experience, and I think he has valuable things to offer. It’s something that shouldn’t be missed.”

— Dick Johnston

On this West Virginia Morning, the late singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston grew up in West Virginia and came onto the indie music scene in the 1980s. Last year, Johnston was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and he’s featured in the next episode of Us & Them. In this award-winning show, host Trey Kay learns about Johnston’s legacy which was partly shaped by his challenges with mental illness.

Also, an international nonprofit is launching an initiative to ease West Virginia’s childcare dilemma.

And, Marshall University is trimming some programs as it eyes growth in the coming years.

Finally, the state is sponsoring a poetry contest for the America 250 celebration on the Fourth of July.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia is currently conducting public comment hearings concerning developer NextEra Energy’s application to construct a new 107.5-mile-long transmission line from Pennsylvania through West Virginia to Virginia. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, in Morgantown.  

Known as the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, the line would cross Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties. Chris Schulz recently spoke with Kaitlin McCormick, senior director of project execution at NextEra, about the need driving the project.  

Also, homeless advocates have released new figures that show a drop in the number of unhoused people in West Virginia.

And, the state is looking for information on technology to help monitor patients in rural settings. 

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

On this West Virginia Morning, there are just over 6,000 abandoned or orphaned natural gas wells in West Virginia, according to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Some estimates suggest that number is low. The surprising thing, though, is where some of them are located. News Director Eric Douglas has this story.

Also, West Virginia is holding steady in a national report on child well-being.

And, the application deadline for the Hope Scholarship Program is just a week away on Monday, June 15. State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, is encouraging more families to apply for the funding.  

Finally, a statewide initiative launched Monday aims to help West Virginians prepare for disasters before they strike.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, throughout the Southern United States, you’ll often find three-pronged leaves with hairy vines swallowing entire sections of forests. It can be a beautiful sight at first glance. But the invasive plant causes persistent ecological problems in the region. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WUOT’s Jacqui Sieber has more on efforts to tackle the ‘vine that ate the south.’

Also, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) has a new chief operating officer. Gov. Patrick Morrisey has named William "Bill" D'Aiuto to the newly created leadership position.

And, U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey, who oversees the Northern District of West Virginia, has been named to a leadership position on a board that targets major drug trafficking operations across multiple states. Harvey will serve as the vice-chair of the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

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

On this West Virginia Week, the Trump administration invests in coal, Medicaid concerns rise in the Mountain State, and Mountaineer Food Bank expands. 

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. 

Learn more about West Virginia Week. 

Some of the stories on our show inspired college student art — including a vivid image of a bear smashing a clarinet.

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

And, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. One author says, these folks are anything but passive. 

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

In This Episode:

• WVU Students Carve Prints From Stories On Inside Appalachia
• The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban
• New Book Exposes ‘America’s Contempt’ For Marginalized Underclass
• Leann Ray And Her Support For Coal Miners

WVU Students Carve Prints From Stories On Inside Appalachia

We occasionally hear from educators who find ways to work Inside Appalachia into their classrooms. In December, the show was tagged in an Instagram post by West Virginia University (WVU) art professor Joseph Lupo.

The post showcased four-color reductive relief prints made by WVU students — each one inspired by a story or episode they heard on Inside Appalachia. 

Host Mason Adams spoke with three of Lupo’s students and asked them to describe their work and its connection to the show. But first, he asked Lupo to explain the assignment he gave his class.

The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban

New Vrindaban is a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. It started in the late 1960s and 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 Folkways reporter Zack Harold’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.

New Book Exposes ‘America’s Contempt’ For Marginalized Underclass

More than one million Americans have died from COVID-19. Some groups of folks died at much higher rates than others. And those deaths tended to follow lines of race, class, age and disability. In other words, conditions that were already making life harder for some people played out during the pandemic, too.

Last year, host Mason Adams spoke with reporter Sarah Jones about her book, Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass.

Leann Ray And Her Support For Coal Miners

The Trump administration has slashed federal jobs and loosened energy production regulations, and delayed a Biden-era rule to protect miners against silica dust, which contributes to black lung disease. Last April, we spoke with Leann Ray, the editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news outlet, West Virginia Watch, about an editorial she wrote.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Tim Bing, Frank George, 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.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, the Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Ohio-based festival over the years has hosted American music icons, like John Prine, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn, while also supporting regional artists. Inside Appalachia’s Abby Neff spoke with festival founder Tim Peacock to learn more.

Also, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services this week has released a ruling on pending changes to Medicaid coverage. Opponents say thousands in West Virginia will lose coverage.

And, Google has created a website to provide information on the company’s plans to develop a data center near the Putnam County town of Buffalo. 

Finally, low income West Virginia residents can apply soon for energy assistance to get through the summer heat if they are in danger of having their service shut off.

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 is our producer.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, if your aging parent needs surgery, you might need to take time away from work to care for them. A federal policy called the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives many employees job-protected leave for caregiving. But it has noteworthy limitations. HealthQ’s Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, as part of the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, spoke with Jocelyn Frye from the National Partnership of Women and Families to learn more.

Also, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released their final report on the mining accident that killed a miner last November.

And, an apprenticeship program in the state’s schools is reporting widespread success in its first few years of operation.

Finally, activists who are concerned about the risks coal mining poses to endangered species in Appalachia notched a courtroom victory last week.

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

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

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning 

On this West Virginia Morning, one in six West Virginians is food insecure. Meaning, 270,000 people in the state regularly don’t know where their next meal will come from. Assistant News Director Maria Young recently toured Mountaineer Food Bank’s greatly expanded, new facility to find out what it takes to meet that need every day – and what it will take in the years to come.

Also, human rights advocates are raising questions about reported immigration enforcement in West Virginia earlier this year.

And, a reminder for anyone who takes a parking spot reserved for Purple Heart recipients. Starting next week, there will be stiff penalties for unauthorized use of those spaces.

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 

On this West Virginia Morning, while baseball fields are run of the mill in most communities, there’s a certain type of diamond that’s less common: it’s called a “Miracle Field.” There are three of these in West Virginia – in Morgantown, Wheeling and Green River. These are accessible baseball facilities that can accommodate players with disabilities. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Cynthia Abrams reports that these fields are a growing trend across the country.

Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is doubling down on prevention as medicine to improve the state’s health.

And, collections for West Virginia’s General Revenue Fund surpassed $381 million in May. That’s $44 million more than estimated, according to Morrisey’s office.

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 

On this West Virginia Morning, black bears now inhabit all 55 counties of West Virginia, and bear encounters are on the rise across Appalachia. Climate change is often a hidden culprit. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports that state wildlife managers are working to promote peaceful coexistence.

Also, Sierra Club West Virginia will debut its finished “Quilting for Community” project Tuesday evening in Morgantown – designed, cut and sewn by community members who may or may not have had any sewing skills when they began.  The project will then launch a statewide tour that is expected to lead to similar projects across 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 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning