Podcast - West Virginia Morning Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

On this West Virginia Morning, for many Black communities, music is an essential component of end-of-life rituals. When a loved one dies, families often call on a singer to perform at a funeral to offer comfort and healing. Inside Appalachia Folkways Reporter Leeshia Lee spoke with her cousin, Michelle Dyess, about being a funeral singer in Charleston.

Also, in this show, the Allegheny Front, based in Pittsburgh, shares its latest story on coal ash cleanup sites.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, some states this fall are redefining their laws and policies on abortion. The move comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. In our newest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay takes a look at where things stand.

Also, in this show, Republicans bolstered their supermajority on election night while Democrats say they’ll continue to work for policies that help people. There’s also the future of tax reform on the table. Randy Yohe spoke with legislative leaders from both parties on what comes next.

And this week marks the broadcast of our landmark 1,000th episode of Mountain Stage, hosted by founder and artistic director Larry Groce. Slide-guitar master Sonny Landreth and legend of the dobro and lap steel Cindy Cashdollar have our Song of the Week with their performance of “Prodigal Son" — the title track to Landreth’s 2004 album of the same name.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Amelia Knisely, Bill Lynch, Caroline MacGregor, Curtis Tate, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Jessica Lilly, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe, and Shepherd Snyder.

Eric Douglas is our news director and our producer.

Teresa Wills and Chuck Anziulewicz are our hosts.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, voters made their voices heard in the 2022 General Election. The GOP has maintained its control of the West Virginia Legislature, U.S. Reps. Carol Miller and Alex Mooney have held onto their seats in Congress, and West Virginia voters have rejected all four proposed amendments to the state constitution. Randy Yohe joins Teresa Wills to discuss the results.

Also, in this show, the WVPB news team spoke with voters around the state Tuesday. We hear what they had to say.

And advocates for the decriminalization of cannabis had enough signatures to get it on the ballot in Charleston Tuesday. Except it wasn’t on the ballot. Curtis Tate explains why.

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

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, Government Reporter Randy Yohe brings us this final preview of ‘Amendment 2’ as voters head to the polls for the 2022 General Election.

Also, in this show, every two years, colleges across the country participate in the National College Health Assessment. At Concord University, more than 25 percent of students scored high on the suicide behavior survey. Administrators at Concord were already seeing students on waiting lists to see the campus counselor. Jessica Lilly spoke with the Dean of Students Sarah Beasley to find out more.

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

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginians will vote Tuesday in new districts after the state redistricting in 2021. For some voters, it will be the first time they elect only one delegate to the House. Chris Schulz has the story.

Also, in this show, six years have passed since the 2016 flood in southern West Virginia that killed 23 people and ravaged communities like White Sulphur Springs and Rainelle. Despite that, researchers say the state does not have a long-term flood recovery plan. Reporter Shepherd Snyder spoke with WVU researcher and Assistant Professor of Geography Jamie Shinn on her project studying how residents of Greenbrier County recovered from the flood, and how the results could shape more effective flood responses both at the state and national levels in the future.

In Washington, D.C., President Joe Biden is getting pushback from Sen. Joe Manchin for comments he made on the campaign trail about coal. The President called for coal plants to be shut down Friday in California and replaced with wind and solar. Curtis Tate reports.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, snake handling churches play a style of Appalachian music few know much about. That music is the subject of a new podcast called “Alabama Astronaut.” Folkways Reporter Zack Harold recently spoke with co-host Abe Partridge about how a project intended to document this music ended up being about a whole lot more.

Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from the multi-faceted musician, singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, known for her hit songs in the 1990s. We listen to “You Are My Balloon” — a song inspired by her children.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Amelia Knisely, Bill Lynch, Caroline MacGregor, Curtis Tate, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Jessica Lilly, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe, and Shepherd Snyder.

Eric Douglas is our news director and our producer.

Teresa Wills and Chuck Anziulewicz are our hosts.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, people with disabilities are being abused in state-run facilities, and lawmakers want answers from the state health department. Amelia Knisely has the story.

Also, in this show, Mercer County leaders have repurposed 23 acres of woodland once used for forestry research into a recreational area. And its two miles of trails offer more than hiking. They also have a lot of history and learning opportunities. Jessica Lilly takes us there in this report.

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

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, we take a look at Amendment 1, which relates to the checks and balances of the legislative and judicial branches of state government. Randy Yohe previews a voter's decision-making process on what’s fair or not fair regarding impeachment procedures.

Plus, Halloween is over, but that doesn’t mean the spooky creatures go away. The Ohio Valley is rich with sightings of cryptids – that is, creatures of lore, unknown to science. Across the region, communities celebrate the shadowy figures, with festivals and stories passed down through generations. Kaitlin Thorne with the Ohio Valley ReSource takes a look into the mysteries of the area.

Also this morning, we begin to look at a few key races around the state as Election Day draws near, including the contested race for the newly formed 7th senate district seat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced nearly 3 million dollars for flood protection efforts in southern West Virginia, and we take a look at alternatives on how to reuse jack-o’-lanterns after Halloween.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, Amendment 3 asks West Virginia voters if churches should be allowed to incorporate. West Virginia is the only state in the country to not allow religious incorporation.

Also, West Virginia had some of the lowest scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress released last week. Deputy Superintendent Michele Blatt talks about what the results mean for education in the state.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, a spooky tale kicks off Halloween in the Mountain State.

Author and playwright Dan Kehde, who runs the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater in Charleston, shared a scary story – it’s up to you to figure out if it’s true or not.

Also, in this show, it has been 50 years since the Clean Water Act, landmark legislation that protected bodies of water. A case before the Supreme Court challenges the scope of the legislation.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

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