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Studying Endangered Bats, A Pioneering Appalachian Filmmaker And The Supreme Court Rules On Local Sports, This West Virginia Week
2d agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Week, bats play a critical role in our ecosystems and agriculture. We’ll hear how their numbers are declining in the face of a changing climate and disease. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams also brings us the story of pioneering artist Oscar Micheaux, an African-American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s. In this episode, we also hear about a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States based on a West Virginia case. We learn about the state’s maternal and fiscal health. And with dangerous heat for the holiday weekend, we hear about how to avoid the dangers of dehydration. 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, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young. Learn more about West Virginia Week.
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A Look At Filmmaker Oscar Micheaux’s Impact, This West Virginia Morning
4d agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Morning, Inside Appalachia this week discusses the influence and contributions of Oscar Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s. Mason Adams speaks with Roanoke historian Jordan Bell about Micheaux's life and career. Also, a private school has been put on probation and another has been permanently disqualified from participating in the Hope Scholarship program. And, a new West Virginia business partnership is investing millions of dollars in the byproducts of coal mining. Finally, the state of West Virginia has finished the fiscal year ahead of projections for revenue. 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 WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
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The Robotic Future Of Caring For The Elderly, This West Virginia Morning
5d agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia has one of the highest percentages of elderly residents in the nation. As baby boomers grow elderly amidst a workforce crisis of caretakers, WESA's Kiley Koscinski reports that both the U.S. and Japan are considering robots as a potential solution as part of this “Designing Dignity” series. Also the Supreme Court of the United States rules that West Virginia's law barring transgender women from girls' sports can stand, and hospital consolidations play a considerable role in the closures of labor and delivery services. 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
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New Program Aims To Keep Seniors At Home, This West Virginia Morning
6d agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Morning, as baby boomers in West Virginia and nationwide continue to age, more Gen X and Millennial adults are finding themselves as caregivers for their parents. Pittsburgh’s major health systems are designing a new program alongside federal agencies aimed at keeping seniors at home for as long as possible. It’s a strategy Japan has been exploring for more than two decades. In this “Designing Dignity” series, WESA’s Kiley Koscinski takes a look at how the country’s care managers bridge medical and social support. Also, southern West Virginia saw significant flooding last week and Kentucky saw even more over the weekend. But a system to detect rising water isn’t any closer to completion. And, the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum is creating the largest labor history driving trail in the United States, and community members have a chance to shape how it will look. Finally, West Virginia’s America250 celebration kicks off in just a few short days. We bring you a snapshot on what to expect. 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
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Appalachia’s Declining Bat Population, This West Virginia Morning
1w agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Morning, bats are the subject of myths and legends, often in a negative light. But that goes against the reality of their role in ecosystems, including critical agricultural services for humans. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Eric Douglas reports bat populations have dropped significantly in the face of a changing climate and disease. Also, Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe over the weekend was awarded the inaugural Freedom 250: Hometown Hero Award. Last November, Wolfe, and his partner U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, were on duty in Washington, D.C., when they were ambushed and shot. Specialist Beckstrom died from her injuries. Wolfe continues to recover. And, the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on a West Virginia case this week. Finally, in a Saturday ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of devastating floods, the town of Clendenin received a $450,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant. 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
Transcribe →A Very Big (Ferris) Wheel And Soda On SNAP, This West Virginia Week
1w agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Week, the world’s largest transportable Ferris wheel arrives in Charleston, the SNAP ban on soda is blocked, and we look at an effort to expand local medical care through EMS. Bill Lynch 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, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young. Learn more about West Virginia Week.
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Kudzu, Farmstands And Bristol’s ‘Black Bottom’ Community, Inside Appalachia
1w agoTap to summarizeSome folks are working to preserve the memory of Bristol, Virginia’s Black Bottom, a largely African American community wiped out by urban renewal. Also, small food producers embrace digital technology for the humble farm stand. And, kudzu; it’s coming for us. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia. In This Episode: The Souls Of Bristol’s Black Bottom Roots Book Ban Reversed In Knox County, Tennessee Roadside Farmstand Gets An Upgrade State Regulators Audit Kentucky Power After 20 Years Volunteers Document Species In The Smoky Mountains Black Bears Are Migrating As Climate Change Threatens Habitat The Vine That Ate The South Herbicide Drones Are Killing Kudzu Herbalism In Appalachia The Souls Of Bristol’s Black Bottom Undated photo of Bristol’s Black Bottom. Courtesy of Black in Appalachia/Virginia Humanities Urban renewal was a 20th century movement by local, state and federal governments to revitalize struggling cities. But Black neighborhoods and business districts were often sacrificed. In Bristol, Virginia, Black business owners ran barber shops, groceries and doctor’s offices in Black Bottom, which was leveled to make way for new streets and civic projects. “The Souls of Bristol’s Black Bottom” is a partnership between Black in Appalachia and Virginia Humanities. The project uses interpretive signs, public art and digital storytelling to remember the community. Organizer and storyteller Tina McDaniel helps lead the project. She says learning about 'Black Bottom was a revelation.' Host Mason Adams spoke to McDaniel about the project. Roots Book Ban Reversed In Knox County, Tennessee Alex Haley’s 1976 Roots is about the horrors of the slave trade in America and designated an official state book of Tennessee. Knox County recently backtracked its decision to remove the critically acclaimed book from school libraries. Photo Credit: Camellia Burris/WPLN Knox County, Tennessee officials have reversed their decision to remove the book Roots from school libraries. In May, just a couple weeks prior, the book was banned by a school board committee. Written by Alex Haley, the novel follows generations of a Black family from enslavement in America in the 1700s through changes and upheavals to the second half of the 20th century. Roots won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into an award-winning television miniseries. It was one of 124 titles that have been removed from library shelves in Knox County. In particular, school board members objected to a depiction of rape of an enslaved woman by a slaveholder. Public outcry to the ban was immediate. WPLN’s Camellia Burris reports. Roadside Farmstand Gets An Upgrade Jessica Camden, owner of Sugarbirds Farm Stand, holds two of the 30 vendors’ products available for sale inside. Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Roadside farmstands with fresh eggs or tomatoes are a common sight in Appalachia. They can be a way for people, especially rural women with kids at home, to support themselves economically. They often work on the honor system; there’s nobody there. Take a carton of berries and leave some cash. But the humble farm stand is changing to keep up with an increasingly cash-free society. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch recently visited a stand in Wythe County, Virginia. State Regulators Audit Kentucky Power After 20 Years Mary Cromer, deputy director of the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, stands outside of their Whitesburg offices. Photo Credit: Andrew Henderson/AMSN Power bills have been rising across much of Appalachia. That’s the case in eastern Kentucky, too, and led to state regulators ordering an audit of Kentucky Power for the first time in more than 20 years. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman met with a new coalition that hopes the audit could lead to lower bills. Volunteers Document Species In The Smoky Mountains <img src="https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Great-Smoky-Mountains-Park-all-taxa-biodiversity-inventory-ATBI-Appalachia-700x393.webp" alt="A landscape image ...
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Remembering ‘Black Bottom’ In Bristol, Va., This West Virginia Morning
1w agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Morning, urban renewal in the last century was supposed to revitalize struggling cities, but it often sacrificed Black neighborhoods and business districts, like Black Bottom in Bristol, Virginia. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with organizer Tina McDaniel about “The Souls of Bristol’s Black Bottom,” a project in Bristol that remembers the community through interpretive signs, public art and digital storytelling. McDaniel says learning about Black Bottom was a revelation. Also, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) has scheduled a public comment hearing for construction of a gas-electric generation plant in Monongalia County and three solar energy projects. And, as West Virginia prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, construction is underway on the Capitol grounds, where the world’s largest transportable Ferris wheel is going up. 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 WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
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Federal Cuts To Medicaid Endanger Addiction Treatment, This West Virginia Morning
2w agoTap to summarizeOn this West Virginia Morning, federal cuts and changes to state law focused on Medicaid programs could undermine West Virginia’s drug addiction and treatment system for 50,000 residents. In the latest encore episode of Us & Them, which was recently honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid supports recovery organizations and what that work looks like. Also a new data center is announced in Wheeling, changes to Medicaid benefit requirements and flooding in Boone 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
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Us & Them Encore: Black West Virginians With Substance Use Disorder Face Unique Challenges
2w agoTap to summarizeThis year, West Virginia lawmakers made significant changes to drug and alcohol treatment programs funded by Medicaid, which many people use. The new legislation ties Medicaid payments to patient outcomes rather than the number of patients served. The Mountain State has the nation's highest overdose rates, and overdose death rates among Black residents exceed those of any other group. In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid funding supports organizations working in recovery and what that work looks like on the ground. This episode of Us & Them, recently honored with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is presented with support from The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts. Reverend James Patterson has led the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC) for the past two decades as its founder and president/CEO. PAAC is a nonprofit, collaborative, faith-based community development corporation based in Charleston, WV, that also provides health care. Photo Credit: PAAC "Every time we had discussions, I was doing focus group research. We started talking about kids, the challenges they face, and other issues in our communities. Everybody kept saying, 'the real problem is them drugs' — that’s exactly how they said it. So, we decided to do something about it. We began by implementing prevention programs and training community health workers, and then we trained them in peer support as recovery coaches." — Rev. James Patterson, founder and president/CEO of the Partnership of African American Churches. Many Black West Virginians have had uncomfortable experiences when visiting the doctor — experiences that can discourage people of color from seeking medical care, mental health treatment or help for drug addiction. Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches and a researcher of this phenomenon, explains the impact of these encounters. Photo Credit: PAAC "Every day, people face subtle but constant annoyances because of their color — especially Black people. They are insulted, invalidated and sometimes physically, verbally and mentally assaulted just for being Black. I see this as a double malady that people must overcome daily, particularly when they’re also dealing with addiction and racism. The stress they endure is something others rarely experience. We are a licensed behavioral health center that provides treatment for substance use disorder. We offer a residential treatment facility, medication-assisted treatment and multiple sober living facilities." — Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches, Charleston, WV Kevin Watkins received training as a peer support coach from the Partnership of African American Churches. A native of Charleston’s Westside — a community with a high concentration of Black residents — Watkins describes the area as "the valley of the shadow of death" because many people he knew died too young. Watkins struggled with substance use disorder, starting with alcohol at a young age and later turning to marijuana, pills and, eventually, speed, which he injected. Photo Credit: PAAC "I had a teacher who was trying to help me, to show me the right way. I was one of those kids with ADD—I could never sit still—so I spent most of my time in the office. I don't think he understood the full extent of my problem, or he wouldn’t have paddled me as he did. I knew I had issues when I tried to break into his house. Looking back, I wonder why I did it all. Part of it was the divorce—my dad was never around, having started another family—so I never had the support system other kids had. I felt like I fell through the cracks in Orchard Manor. Sometimes I’d wake up in the old county jail, not even knowing why I was there, beat up and bleeding. I knew I had a serious situation on my hands." — Kevin Watkins, peer support coach trained by the Partnership of African American Churches Robert Hansen is retired after nearly 50 years in West Virginia's behavioral health field, including a two-year stint as director of the state’s Office of Drug Control Policy — known as the drug czar. Photo Credit: The Charleston Gazette-Mail “Residential treatment programs in West Virginia have grown dramatically. Back in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the state had about 150 to 200 treatment beds. Today, there are more than 1,700. Providers are expanding services on the theory that Medicaid funding will continue. The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government — with Congress and the president’s approval — while West Virginia must supply matching dollars. The Partnership of African American Churches is funded similarly; as they apply for grants from the Bureau of Behavioral Health or the federal government, they have opportunities aligned with their expertise. Otherwise, their core funding is no different from any other addiction treatment provider." — Robert Hansen, former director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy.
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