West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Initiative (AFHI) has documented dozens of previously unknown underground railroad sites throughout our region. Cicero Fain, Marshall University historian and AFHI assistant research director spoke with Mason Adams for Inside Appalachia about their work.

Also several hundred acres of an historic West Virginia State Park are burning.

And West Virginia's Secretary of State is seeking uniformity in the state's primary elections, while the governor announces investment in the state's energy production.

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, more than 1,600 counties in the U.S. are so-called news deserts - places with limited options for local news. Most of West Virginia’s 55 counties fall into that category. In this encore episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits one online startup in Greenbrier County that’s bucking the trend. Kay talks with pastor and former lawmaker Stephen Baldwin about his venture called The Real West Virginia. Here’s an excerpt.  

Also, there's been a lot of discussion about West Virginia's school funding formula. Now lawmakers have a price tag for fixing it.

And, seven groups in the state are getting Rural Health Transformation Program awards to strengthen diabetes care.

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, many people wrongly believe black lung disease is a thing of the past, but the incidence of the disease is higher now than in the last 50 years. A new film from reporter Howard Berkes called Coal's Human Cost will premiere Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 10 p.m. on PBS’ program FRONTLINE. The documentary explores what black lung disease means to miners and the community. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Berkes to discuss it.

Also, lawmakers are expressing serious concern over reports that the state auditor intervened directly in the sale of properties with delinquent taxes.

And, West Virginia has secured more than $202 million in its second year of funding from the federal Rural Health Transformation 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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, buying health insurance can be overwhelming, but there are people who can help you figure it out — free of charge. HealthQ sits in as one 22-year-old speaks with an “independent assister.” 

Also, legislative interims are underway at the state capitol building in Charleston. 

And, the results of last Tuesday's general election are in – but still considered unofficial. As of 9 a.m. Monday, that began to change.

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, These Dreaming Hills is a new horror and science fiction anthology collecting stories from across Appalachia. Inside Appalachia's Bill Lynch spoke with editor Noah Ashley Blooms about the book. Blooms began by reading the introduction. Here’s an excerpt.

Also, West Virginia's attorney general continues his campaign against social media companies for putting children at risk.

And, access to labor and delivery services across the country has been on the decline for years, but a new agreement hopes to reverse that trend.  

Finally, more than a third of all deer-vehicle collisions happen in October and November. Cooler weather and shorter days mean more deer are out looking for food, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS).  

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachia is full of ancient cave systems. Some are so deep nobody’s sure where they begin or end. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Andrea “river” Peterson explored a once-privately owned underground landscape that recently became a Pennsylvania State Park.   

Also, nationwide, more women will become governors and members of Congress as a result of Tuesday's general elections. That trend is showing up in West Virginia as well.  

And, despite more West Virginians being registered to vote for the general election, fewer of them went to the polls Tuesday compared to the last midterm election. Just over 460,000, or 38%, of registered West Virginia voters participated in this year's election.  

Finally, clean water and marine security were the focus of two announcements Wednesday, covering three southern West Virginia counties.

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate, the 2026 general election saw significant inroads for Democrats. At least one expert traces the reasons for those inroads to several key issues. Assistant News Director Maria Young spoke with Marshall University political science professor Marybeth Beller to learn more about the wins and the losses. 

Also, Republican incumbents Shelley Moore Capito in the U.S. Senate, and Carol Miller and Riley Moore in the U.S. House of Representatives all won reelection. But at the state level, there were some key losses for Republicans. As Chris Schulz reports, the cost of living is a key issue motivating voters this year.  

And, the constitutional amendment, Amendment 1, establishing that only citizens of the U.S. who are also citizens of West Virginia can vote in elections in the state, has officially passed with more than 75% of the vote. WVU student journalist Grace Greene spoke with Morgantown voters on Election Day to hear what they what they had to say about the amendment on their ballot.

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, early voting in West Virginia ended over the weekend. The polls open statewide Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Remember to bring your voter identification – this is the first general election where a photo ID will be required to vote. 

There is a lot riding on the outcome of Tuesday's election, both in this state and across the nation. Assistant News Director Maria Young spoke with Marshall University Political Science Professor Marybeth Beller about what to watch for as the results come in.

Also, a multi-day regulatory hearing into a proposed transmission line through four West Virginia counties is over.

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

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

Maria Young produced this episode.

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

On this West Virginia Morning, Inside Appalachia this week explores data centers and artificial intelligence (AI). As part of this special episode, host Mason Adams spoke with Dan Parks, a journalist who writes a Substack called Country Roads News. He's been covering data center development in Tucker County. We listen to an excerpt.

Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is focusing on fundamentals to advance the state's prospects.

And, the development of a flight training program has led to a new program helping Marshall and West Virginia reach for the skies.

Finally, the West Virginia State Police Cold Case Task Force is taking on a brutal, decades-old crime that claimed the lives of four teenagers from Huntington.

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

On this West Virginia Morning, southern West Virginia has rich but often overlooked musical traditions. Chris Haddox is a West Virginia University (WVU) professor of sustainable design, but he's also spent years uncovering more information on those overlooked musicians. He spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about his work to shine a light on the musical talents of local miners, now with the help of a grant from the Mellon Foundation. 

Also, completing paperwork to do business in West Virginia is about to get easier.

And, two fraternities on the WVU campus in Morgantown were raided Monday night.

Finally, the Museum of Radio and Technology hosted the 21st annual West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame Tuesday.

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 West Virginia Public Broadcasting or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning