On this West Virginia Morning, how important is habitat for survival? We listen to The Allegheny Front’s latest story on what’s happening with federal efforts to limit protections for endangered species.

Also, after a weekend of snow and ice that blanketed most of West Virginia, state officials are now warning of frigid temperatures for much of the week. And, hundreds of people with nowhere else to stay safe and warm during this winter storm landed in temporary warming centers – and some brought their pets.

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, we hear from House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, who outlines his goals for the 2026 state Legislative session. This excerpt comes to us from our weekly TV/radio simulcast The Legislature Today. Watch or listen to new episodes on Fridays at 6 p.m.

Also, if you’re newly pregnant and haven’t been able to afford health insurance, there’s a good chance you qualify for Medicaid in West Virginia. The government insurance program has a special application process for those who are pregnant. We bring you the latest in a new series from the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom called “HealthQ.” Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer are approachable guides to an unapproachable health system.

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, over the last several years, catastrophic floods have washed out parts of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia, as well as North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Why are the mountains getting so much flooding? And what do frequent major storms mean for the future? Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke with Brady Dennis with The Washington Post. He and a team of journalists investigated those questions.

Also, much of the state is bracing for a frigid, powerful storm to hit this weekend, and with this winter storm expected to hit Saturday morning, homeless advocates across the state are moving quickly to provide warm centers and a safe place for those in need.

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, state prisons release at least 95% percent of incarcerated people back into society. Some individuals struggle to navigate those transitional challenges successfully. On the latest Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with Rahim Buford who was paroled after 26 years in prison. Buford says the impact of poverty and trauma and accepting responsibility for a crime can make reentry a daunting task.

Also, two bills the West Virginia House of Delegates found so urgent they were willing to suspend their own rules in order to pass them slowed to a crawl in the Senate this week, and developers seeking to build a water bottling facility in Jefferson County are appealing to the state’s highest court after local rejection.

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 year after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, West Virginians took to the streets Tuesday to express their frustrations with recent policy changes at home and in Washington.

Also, Kentucky Power has formally notified state regulators of its plan to build a new cooling tower at its Mitchell plant in West Virginia, and Senate Democrats have a list of priorities they are hoping to address this state legislative session.

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, pearls are prized gemstones that have been crafted into jewelry for millennia. They can be found in the wild, but they’re also cultivated on farms. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Will Darnall reports from North America’s lone freshwater pearl farm located along Kentucky Lake in Tennessee.

Also, the West Virginia Legislature is stepping in to mitigate a financial crisis in Hancock County Schools, and a massive plant to transform coal into new products is coming to Mason 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 

On this West Virginia Morning, we bring you another story from a new series from the Appalachia Mid+South Newsroom titled “HealthQ.” If you’re looking to sign up for a new gym membership this year, it’s worth looking into whether your health insurance will help with some or all of the cost. Reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer are your approachable guides to an unapproachable health system.

Also, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. In this story, they explore soaring electricity costs and the slow growth of renewable energy.

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, WVPB’s annual TV/radio simulcast The Legislature Today kicks off Jan. 16 through March 13. Every Friday at 6 p.m., our journalists will bring you the latest news from the West Virginia Legislature, including interviews with lawmakers and stakeholders. In our first episode this year, you’ll see an interview with Del. Sean Hornbuckle and Sen. Mike Woelfel, both minority leaders in their respective chambers and both from Cabell County. Here’s an excerpt.

Also, the state’s child welfare system is a key issue at this year’s regular legislative session, and the U.S. Marshals Service said scammers are falsely posing as marshals or other federal law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money.

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, Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his second State of the State address Wednesday night, giving lawmakers and the public a look at his priorities for the legislative session now underway. Be sure to bookmark our The Legislature Today hub page for the latest news on the 2026 West Virginia Legislative session.

Also, school districts under a state-imposed state of emergency are making progress. But some education leaders are pointing towards more systemic issues. 

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 

Editor’s Note: During the on-air broadcast of this episode, there was a technical issue with the story from Assistant News Director Maria Young. We have corrected this for our podcast version found here on our website.

On this West Virginia Morning, for the second week in a row, every state touching West Virginia’s border is experiencing high or very high cases of influenza. So far, this state is showing only a low to moderate outbreak. But health experts in West Virginia predict that’s about to change. Maria Young has the story.

Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey will address members of the West Virginia Legislature Wednesday evening, and the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments from West Virginia regarding laws that restrict biologically male transgender athletes from playing in girls sports in high school and college.

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