West Virginia Morning

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. WVPB spoke with Berkes about the film. The post New Film On Black Lung To Premiere On PBS, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

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.”  The post Navigating Health Insurance, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

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. The post New Appalachian Horror, Science Fiction Anthology, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

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.   The post Appalachia’s Ancient Cave Systems, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

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.  The post Democrats Flip Seats In W.Va. House...

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. The post Political Science Professor Weighs In On W.Va. Election 2026, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Br...

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. The post Latest ‘Inside Appalachia’ Explores Data Center Debate, This West Virginia Morning appe...

Southern West Virginia has rich but often overlooked musical traditions. Chris Haddox is a WVU professor of sustainable design, but he's also spent years uncovering more information on those overlooked musicians. We spoke with him to learn more about his effort to shine a light on the musical talents of local miners, now with the help of a grant from the Mellon Foundation.  The post Effort To Reco...

If your doctor recommends a big test or procedure, a decision tool with the acronym B.R.A.I.N. can help you talk through options collaboratively. It works at a routine checkup or in high-stakes medical situations like childbirth. As part of the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, health reporters Kara Anthony and Blake Farmer brings the latest from the series, HealthQ. The post New Tool To Help Anxio...

From The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh, brings us their latest story on the return of black lung disease to Appalachian coal miners.  The post Younger Coal Miners Are Getting Black Lung, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

Stories about cryptids are revived every October in the lead-up to Halloween. Oftentimes, these monsters are said to live in the woods – or some other dark area where they’re difficult to find. Few, if any, can be  found leaping along rooftops in one of the country's largest historic preservation districts. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Roberto Roldan brings us the story of the Ol...

Silas House is a major voice for Appalachia. The Kentucky native has written more than 15 books and served as the state's poet laureate. His latest book is The Tulip Poplars, a sweeping novel about the lives of four people as they navigate friendship and forbidden love throughout the 20th century. Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams spoke with House.  The post Appalachian Author Silas House Talks New...

As we’re counting down to the midterm election, Us & Them host Trey Kay has invited a new group of guests to a Dinner Party – but this time, the table is in Huntington. Kay’s guests are a mix of conservative and progressive voters, half of whom are under 30 and they share a wide-ranging conversation over a potluck meal. We listen to an excerpt from this episode where a number of guests weigh...

The nonprofit newsroom ProPublica has been reporting on the use of public money to fund private education. Earlier this month, ProPublica published a series of stories about how they, along with Mountain State Spotlight, opened a school in West Virginia. Reporter Jennifer Smith Richards spoke with Chris Schulz about the experience and what it says about modern education.  The post ProPublica, Moun...

As people take a greater number of medications across years or decades, experts say the risk for adverse drug interactions increases. One way to advocate for yourself? Keep a list of your meds handy. We listen to the latest story from health series, HealthQ, a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News, with reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer. The post Protecting Yoursel...

Middle Tennessee’s Dickson County is known for being the filming location for Ernest Goes to Camp, which grossed upwards of $20 million in the late 1980s. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Jewly Hight looked into the area’s earlier lore about mysterious creatures of the night. The post A Tale Of Tennessee’s Cryptids, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public B...

When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina in 2024, it took lives and upended communities. A community of ballad singers lost a place where they could share their tradition, but what was lost could be restored. The post Following Hurricane Helene, A Community Of Ballad Singers Is Making A Comeback, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

In Mason County, West Virginia, new data center developments are changing local landscapes and communities. One of the computing campuses is also threatening a special stand of trees. Reporter Andrea “River” Peterson reports.  The post The Future Of American Chestnuts In Mason County, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

The changing colors of the leaves and the dropping temperatures of fall bring with them calls to get vaccinated against the flu. But in recent years, that call to action has expanded. We talk with Dr. Brian Huggins, Monongalia County health officer and medical director, about when to get vaccinated. The post The Best Time To Get Vaccinated Against Respiratory Illnesses, This West Virginia Morning...

It’s not often that we associate West Virginia's obesity rates with good news – but data released last month from the nonprofit Trust for America's Health finds West Virginia is one of just two states nationwide to show a significant drop in adult obesity rates. We find out what's causing the decline – and whether it's likely to continue.  The post Obesity Rates In W.Va. On The Decline, This West...

Barbara Kingsolver is one of Appalachia’s foremost writers. She’s written a string of bestsellers, like "The Poisonwood Bible" and "Demon Copperhead," which won her the Pulitzer Prize. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams met Kingsolver at her home outside Abingdon, Virginia, to talk art, writing and her latest book, "Partita." We listen to an excerpt from that interview.  The post Appalachian Author B...

West Virginia has seen the largest population decline in the nation - nearly 1.5% - and many of those leaving are young people. In an episode that aired last month, Us & Them host Trey Kay heard from some young people who think they may stay in the state to launch their futures. This month, Kay talks with those who say living their dreams may well require moving away from the Mountain State. ...

Last week, we aired the first part of an interview with a WVSU professor about what is AI. In the second part of that interview, we explore the best way to use AI to get what you want – while avoiding fabricated or false answers that seem real. The post How To Effectively Use AI, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

Direct-to-consumer tests like full-body scans are marketed as a way to catch diseases early and establish a baseline. But there are financial, physical and psychological risks to all medical tests — and in some cases, not getting a test could be better for your health. From the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, HealthQ hosts Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer speak with UCSF Cardiologist Dr. Rita Redber...

During spooky season, popular attention turns toward ghosts and goblins – or if you live in Appalachia – cryptids. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Bill Lynch, producer of Inside Appalachia, brings us the story of the Flatwoods Monster. The post Origins Of The Flatwoods Monster, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting .