West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we look back at the life of renowned actor James Earl Jones, who died this month at age 93. Jones was a cast member in the 1987 John Sayles film “Matewan,” shot in Thurmond, West Virginia.

Reporter Curtis Tate spoke to David Wohl, who invited Jones to speak to his acting class at West Virginia State University decades before his passing.

Plus, we’ll hear some good news about the overdose rate from public health issues, concerns over how to address a growing child care crisis and the latest on keeping students focused in the classroom.

In this episode, we also travel 110 years into the past, where a murder, payroll robbery and posse chase played out in one weekend in the hills of Mingo County.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting debuted an original radio play entitled “The Last Train to Glen Alum” this week. The story relives the century-old caper through the contemporary writing of News Director Eric Douglas.

Douglas sat down with historian Stan Bumgardner to discuss the dramatic moment in West Virginia history. You can learn more about the play at this link.

Jack Walker 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, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week: 

We’ll hear why the state employee health insurance plan canceled a trial with a popular obesity treatment. We’ll take a look back at the two years since state lawmakers enacted a near-total abortion ban. And we’ll learn about a West Virginia queer film festival.

Plus, why are schools receiving so many threats? Congress honors a West Virginia space pioneer. And the Mothman Festival is upon us.

Curtis Tate 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, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll tell you about a very popular nutrition assistance program at local farmers’ markets that has been temporarily paused because of a lack of funding.   

Plus, Gov. Jim Justice formally calls a special session of the legislature, and lawmakers discuss what they want to accomplish.

We’ll also hear a conversation with the director of a local food bank about hunger in West Virginia.

Also, we have stories on efforts to address mental health issues in the state’s military veteran community, rate hikes at one power utility company and avoiding head injuries.

Chris Schulz is our host this week. Emily Rice produced this episode.

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, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, that buzz you keep hearing is not your imagination. We’ll tell you why our mosquito population is flourishing.

Plus that controversial Charleston post office move? It’s off.

And we’ll also take a look at the latest decision to ban camping in a West Virginia city – and what homeless advocates have to say about it. 

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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll review some of the top stories from legislative interims – to find out some of the issues lawmakers are working on. 

Plus delve into how nature lovers can help protect forests from illegal activities.

We’ll also take a look at the latest hurdle for a program designed to make coal mines safer place to work. 

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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll hear from Governor Jim Justice about efforts to auction off his Greenbrier Resort – and what he says is behind it all.

Plus, why health officials worry that HIV infections in rural West Virginia are going undetected  – and spreading. 

We’ll also take a look at a proposed camping ban some say targets the homeless in Morgantown. 

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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we look at who’s eligible for absentee voting in the Mountain State and how to apply.

Plus, a flight school for future pilots – hundreds of miles from the main campus.

We’ll also delve into the vaccine divide as students head back to class.

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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we look back at the life of Jon McBride, the first astronaut from West Virginia to travel to space.

Plus, we hear about the life of Private First Class Mose Vance of McDowell County. At age 21, the West Virginia native died in action during World War II. Eighty years later, he’s finally receiving a proper burial.

We’ll also dive into drought-resistant farming tips and the state of West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship.

Jack Walker 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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we hear the traditional sounds of indigenous cultures as a West Virginia museum explores local Native American history.  

We talk to a dietician about navigating food and diet information on social media and speak with farmers in the Eastern Panhandle as they navigate an ongoing drought. 

We also hear about Charleston’s HIV outbreak in the first installment of a joint series between West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the Global Health Reporting Center, supported by the Pulitzer Center.

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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll talk to a Marshall University expert on recent head-spinning developments in national politics. We’ll ask a dancer in the Broadway musical Hamilton about how she got the part. We’ll speak with the author of a report that shows what’s really behind rising electricity prices in West Virginia.

We’ll also look at what immunizations students will need when they go back to school. And we’ll ask leading Democrats in the state what they think of Vice President Kamala Harris rising to the top of the party’s ticket.

Curtis Tate 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, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.