On this West Virginia Morning, neighboring Kentucky is known for its lucrative horse racing industry. But despite regulations to ensure all workers are legal, the federal immigration crackdown is causing concerns.

And, nearly a century after she fled Huntington, a blues festival there recognizes the diverse musical talents of Diamond Teeth Mary. 

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, Tuesday, Sept. 2 will be a day of mourning for Tim Armstead at the state Supreme Court of Appeals. The order halts business and proceedings for the day. Armstead, a former Chief Justice of the court who also served in the House of Delegates, died Tuesday following a brief hospitalization.

And, the Charleston Distance Run returns for its 52nd year on Saturday. In the crowd of hundreds: a group of women who call themselves the “GRRL Gang.” They have some tips for first timers. 

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, Curtis Tate, 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, utility companies are balking at the latest Public Service Commission order over fiber optic cable and who pays for what when it gets attached to utility poles. That’s what needs to happen for broadband to expand in West Virginia. But disagreements over cost-sharing and access to poles already in place have become a major stumbling block standing in the way of expansion efforts. 

And, as aging Baby Boomers turn to long-term care, the latest episode of Us & Them addresses the cost of caregiving. In a struggling state with an older population, West Virginians weigh in on what it takes to care for another person – and how much caregivers should be paid.

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, former colleagues and friends across the state are remembering Tim Armstead, who in 2015 became the first Republican Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates in 84 years and also served as the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court of Appeals. He died Tuesday following a brief hospitalization.

And, millions of people around the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. But the problem is complex in Appalachia – where systems were in place during the booming days of the coal industry.  A global campaign takes a look at what it would take to resolve the challenges here.

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, guided tours to see West Virginia’s iconic elk in the wild begin next month. Dozens of the animals were acquired from Kentucky and Arizona nearly a decade ago and released to the Logan County’s Tomblin Wildlife Management Area.

And, how small is too small when it comes to securing state funds? Small communities and former coal towns across West Virginia have aging water systems in desperate need of upgrade. Some say their dwindling populations make it that much harder to secure state funds. 

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 titanium factory that’s powered by renewable energy is in the final months of construction. And it’s drawing former residents back to West Virginia.

And, West Virginia is uniquely situated between the North Pole and the Equator, which means it’s in the perfect spot to view the northern skies and some of the southern skies. That includes a hard-to-see galaxy. A Clay Center science educator helps us track the obscure M51.

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 ACLU of West Virginia has filed a lawsuit claiming Gov. Patrick Morrisey exceeded his authority when he decided to deploy the West Virginia National Guard to the District of Columbia. 

Morrisey is one of six Republican governors who said they’d send troops to the nation’s capital to support law enforcement and the preferences of President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit says the deployment is unlawful.

And, Appalachia is home to thriving punk, metal, indie and hardcore music scenes that sound nothing like the old-time and bluegrass the region is better known for. Now a radio show-turned-podcast is giving the world a chance to tune in to Appalachia’s extreme music scene. 

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, Curtis Tate, 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, despite heavy public opposition, the state Department of Environmental Protection has approved air quality and construction permits for an energy microgrid between the towns of Davis and Thomas in Canaan Valley. Leaders of a grassroots protest say regulators are siding with industry over community. 

And, a six-year battle to prevent construction of a natural gas pipeline was lost. So now conservationists are monitoring the environmental impact of the project that cuts through a protected wildlife corridor.

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, what happens when a bankrupt coal company can’t find a buyer? South Fork Coal – which had operations that were contested by numerous conservation groups – has idled its operations and furloughed its remaining employees. Curtis Tate reports on what happens next.

And, a little-known piece of Harpers Ferry’s storied history is getting some attention. That’s thanks to a new book that shines a spotlight on a pair of African American newlyweds who managed to do something few other Black people of their time could do: open and run a successful restaurant and inn. Jack Walker takes a look at the Lovett family and their years of success in the midst of the Jim Crow era. 

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, some regions have waited more than 30 years for municipal systems to deliver clean drinking water. Meanwhile, they rely on faith communities bringing bottled water. From the tiny town of Anawalt, Wendy Welch attended a water distribution day and brings us this story.

And a lawsuit seeking to halt exemptions to school vaccine requirements has been refiled in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

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