Data center proposals are popping up in West Virginia – and in neighboring Pennsylvania, where one small community is juggling seven different potential projects. From The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh, we hear from that community and their concerns.

Many West Virginians may not remember the name Doris “Dorie” Miller, but he served on the USS West Virginia when it was attacked at Pearl Harbor. While Miller was never trained to fight, he raced to the deck on the day of the attack and fought back – shooting down at least one enemy plane. In 2020, a new aircraft was commissioned by the U.S. Navy and named for Miller. But recent stories have surfaced with talk of renaming it after President Donald Trump. We speak with Scott Womack, the commander of American Legion Post 100 in Monroe, West Virginia, to discuss the group’s recent resolution that the Navy should retain Miller’s name on the ship.

Twenty-five years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., a hijacked plane hit one of the twin towers at the World Trade Center in New York City, ending for this nation a certain innocence, and the belief that such an attack would never happen on American soil. Maria Young caught up an economics professor from WVU who was on site when the planes hit – and gave an exclusive interview to then-West Virginia Public Broadcasting News Director Beth Vorhees. 

Economic growth in West Virginia ranks close to the bottom in national rankings. It’s not just losing jobs, it’s also losing young people. In the first of two new Us & Them episodes, host Trey Kay talks with several young adults from the Mountain State asking whether they will stay put or find their future elsewhere.

As one of the hardest hit states in the country’s opioid crisis, communities across West Virginia have started spending their portion of the roughly $1 billion in settlements from pharmaceutical companies and distributors. Schuyler Mitchell, assistant news director at nonprofit newsroom Mother Jones, reported last month on the use of the funds to purchase automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, from companies like Flock. She spoke to Chris Schulz about her findings.  

The mayor of Gallatin, Tennessee, says a Meta hyperscale data center is the city’s largest taxpayer, but residents still have concerns about its effect on utilities, the environment and property values. Travel up I-65 and data center fights are playing out in several Kentucky communities. Lisa Autry from the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom went to Gallatin to find out if Big Tech is a good neighbor. 

We remember Dolly Parton, not just as a musician and celebrity, but as a voice for Appalachian humor, resilience and kindness. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Mountain Stage host and country star Kathy Mattea, who shares some of her memories. 

NPR recently released a story showing that heat-related deaths in the United States have likely been undercounted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks deaths, but it isn’t always easy to attribute a death to heat. We speak with an expert who helps us understand what heat does to the body and what it means in West Virginia.

Every week, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s Bill Burton and meteorologist Tawana Andrew break down what we know – and what we don’t – about the climate and weather in the region. This week, we’re talking about when different areas of the country have their hottest days.

On this West Virginia Morning, National Save A Life Day coordinator talks about what to expect if you stop by one of the dozens of booths planned across the state later this month. 

Noise pollution has reached dangerous levels for residents living near the Memphis-Mississippi border. That’s the home of Elon Musk’s X-AI data center campus that runs Grok, the AI chatbot for the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports on what’s becoming an emerging model of data center – and unchecked noise pollution. 

On this West Virginia Morning, we lost the beloved Dolly Parton this week. The Tennessee native was an American music icon, an actress and a philanthropist. She was also, undeniably, Appalachian.

On this West Virginia Morning, about 12% of West Virginia’s young people from 16 to 24 are disconnected youth – not going to school or working. Us & Them looks into why the state has such a high number.

Singer, actress and icon Dolly Parton visited West Virginia in 2022 to celebrate the state’s full participation in her Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy program she started in honor of her father in 1995. Dolly Parton died Tuesday after a brief illness. We listen back to an interview she did with then WVPB Executive Producer Suzanne Higgins. 

One of the world’s rarest plants, the Peters Mountain Mallow, lives on only one mountainside, in the New River Valley along the West Virginia line. Last year, scientists counted just five plants still alive – and the recent drought means protecting it from extinction is getting tougher.

As developers rapidly propose data centers across Kentucky, their neighbors are struggling to find out what it will mean for them. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Sylvia Goodman reports that residents are calling for more transparency from developers and their own public officials.  

On this West Virginia Morning, a new book, “The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness,” looks at the process to reintroduce large game to parts of Appalachia.

Social Security began 91 years ago when President Franklin Roosevelt signed it into law. Since then, it has provided a social safety net to Americans, allowing many of them to retire with dignity, according to John Hishta, senior vice president of campaigns with AARP. But many experts say that without some action, social security benefits will have to be reduced by 20% in 2032. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Hishta to understand the situation.

It’s thunderstorm season, but not all of them are the same. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Bill Burton and meteorologist Tawana Andrew break down what we know – and what we don’t – about the climate and weather in the region. This week, they examine different types of thunderstorms. 

For the third installment in our series on data centers, we look at how data centers proposals are provoking outrage from local opponents. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Kentucky Public Radio’s Joe Sonka reports that such fights are increasingly common — and bipartisan. 

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that black lung rates are the highest they’ve been since the 1970s. Justin Hicks and Howard Burkes reported on that for the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Hicks and Burkes to dig a little deeper.  

West Virginia has been at the center of America’s opioid epidemic and overdose death toll. While recent reports show the state’s overdose deaths have fallen by nearly 38%, addiction remains the most common reason for West Virginia children to be taken from their families. In the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay attends a WVU training symposium, including a screening of the recent film “What We Hide,” and hears from professionals who work with people affected by addiction.

As lawmakers and educational leaders across West Virginia take a hard look at school finances, administrative staff that work outside the classroom have come under increased scrutiny. But one school financial operations officer says administrators manage an increasingly complicated educational landscape.

Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders’ iconic items earned big bucks at auction. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, reporter Andrew Henderson went to the auction and hung around for the fried chicken.

Residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers. A recurring concern is how the developments could affect the cost of electricity.

For nearly 100 years, Snuffy Smith has been a staple of newspaper comic pages, though these days, it’s easier to find him online. Snuffy Smith was brought to life by Artist Fred Lasswell in the 1930s, but now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. We hear from Rose about drawing the famous hillbilly.

Federal health researchers at the CDC have a new report about black lung disease among the most experienced coal miners in Appalachia. They are suffering from the incurable disease at the highest rates in nearly half a century.

The West Virginia Manufacturers Association has just launched its inaugural Coolest Thing Made In West Virginia tournament. We caught up with WVMA President Bill Bissett to find out what organizers hope will come from the competition – and what makes a really cool product. 

Roadside farmstands with homemade jams and bread are a common sight in Appalachia. Because they’re unmanned, many of them work on the honor system: Take a carton of berries, 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 and has this. 

Data center development is a fast-growing industry, with projects popping up in seemingly every corner of the country. But that’s not been the case in West Virginia so far. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Chris Schulz reports state officials are rolling out the red carpet for the expensive and increasingly expansive projects.

Writer Emilee Hackney has a complicated relationship with where she grew up. She loved her friends, family, the swimming holes and wild places in Tazewell County, Virginia, but she felt stifled. Her new memoir, All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir, explores this tension and what happened when she did leave.

A recent national story identified West Virginia’s Ascend program as being highly successful, even though the numbers are relatively small. News Director Eric Douglas caught up with NPR reporter Scott Neuman to discuss the program in relation to other similar efforts and what he discovered.

The criminal charges against teacher and now-former delegate Elliott Pritt shocked many. We speak with Moore Capito, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, whose office is prosecuting the case, about what specific steps parents can take to protect their children from predators who seem both successful and safe.

Traditional Appalachian ballads have found new life in the form of an audio drama podcast produced by the Appalachia Book Company. We look at a reimagined story of a traditional railroad disaster ballad. 

Tornadoes are notoriously unpredictable, making forecasting nearly impossible. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to improve forecast models. We listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public media program based in Pittsburgh, that reports on environmental issues in the region. 

Open Door Café in Wytheville, Virginia uses gardening as a way to feed the hungry while breaking down the stigma of homelessness. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story about digging into the roots and connecting to more than just the land.

Many people struggle to find affordable housing, and more cities and towns now grapple with growing homeless populations. On the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderates a public conversation in Morgantown about that city’s housing approach.

There are many insects that threaten West Virginia’s agriculture and bother us when we’re trying to enjoy time outdoors. But with its distinctive Dalmatian pattern and splash of red, the spotted lanternfly stands out for its ability to threaten dozens of plants, commercial and domestic. We hear from WVU Extension entomologist Carlos Quesada to learn more about the insect and how to stop its spread.

On this West Virginia Morning, a look at how the hot, humid weather of summer is a prime season for the sometimes disease-carrying ticks. 

On this West Virginia Morning, an unattractive, slimy, two-foot salamander may hold the key to detecting healthy water ways in West Virginia. 

On this West Virginia Morning, if you’ve ever seen the eye-catching ‘Bus On A Rock’ in the New River and wondered why – and how – it got there, we have some answers for you.

On this West Virginia Morning, the client of a Charleston attorney says the DEA allowed millions of doses of potentially deadly Fentanyl into the United States.

On this West Virginia Morning, renovation work is underway on the Holly Grove mansion, the oldest surviving residence on the state capitol complex after several decades of plans.

On this West Virginia Morning, blind athletes rely on sound to hit the ball and run to a base in beep baseball.

On this West Virginia Morning, the spike-covered hawthorn is unique to our region but little known, and the heat you feel might be more about how humid it is than the temperature.

On this West Virginia Morning, not much has been known about Appalachia’s contributions to the Underground Railroad, but a Marshall University historian is documenting that history.

On this West Virginia Morning, affordable dental care is a little-talked-about challenge low-income families face in this state, but there is an effort underway to change that.

On this West Virginia Morning, many people are looking towards the country’s future after the nation’s 250th anniversary. A group in West Virginia is talking to the region’s youth to capture their voices and perspectives about what comes next.

On this West Virginia Morning a new musical, written right here in our region, takes a look at a small Ohio town, just across the river from West Virginia, that played a significant role in the development of the nation.

The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom recently wrapped up a month-long series about signal species. These are animals, plants and other organisms that offer us clues about the changing world around us – if you pay close enough attention. LPM’s Bill Burton sat down with deputy managing editor John Boyle to discuss how the series came together with our partners in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. 

This week, Inside Appalachia 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.

On this West Virginia Morning, both the U.S. and Japan are considering robots as a potential solution to an aging population amidst a caretaker crisis.

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.

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. Bat populations have dropped significantly in the face of a changing climate and disease. 

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.

On 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.

A $1 million initiative through the Rural Health Transformation Program aims to help rural EMS agencies expand access to health care in rural and underserved areas of West Virginia. We spoke with Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh to understand how the program is designed to work – and who it will focus on first.

On this West Virginia Morning, our partner HealthQ explores why embracing the title of “caregiver” matters—and how recognition and support can make a difference in this phase of life.

On this West Virginia Morning, freshwater mussels play a vital role in the health of the region’s waterways, but their populations have dwindled over the years.

Indigenous people created hundreds of earthen monuments in what is now Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. John E. Hancock, a professor of architecture and design at the University of Cincinnati, spent years studying these earthworks. He published a guidebook for visiting them. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Hancock about the book.  

On this West Virginia Morning, State Sen. Ryan Weld has written a history of Wellsburg through a unique lens -- he focused on 14 homes in the town and the people who lived in them.

On this West Virginia Morning, an Appalachian distillery has rediscovered an old technique for aging their bourbon and whiskey products.

On this West Virginia Morning, the nine-banded armadillo has become an indicator of rising temperatures in Kentucky and the surrounding region.

This week’s Inside Appalachia features storytellers from around the region, including author, television host and five-time West Virginia Liars Contest winner Bil Lepp. Here he is back in 2019, telling a story during a Mountain Stage performance at the West Virginia Culture Center.

The late singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston grew up in West Virginia and came onto the indie music scene in the 1980s. Last year, Johnston was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and he’s featured in the next episode of Us & Them. In this award-winning show, host Trey Kay learns about Johnston’s legacy which was partly shaped by his challenges with mental illness.

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is currently conducting public comment hearings concerning developer NextEra Energy’s application to construct a new 107.5-mile-long transmission line from Pennsylvania through West Virginia to Virginia. WVPB spoke with NextEra about the project.

There are just over 6,000 abandoned or orphaned natural gas wells in West Virginia, according to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Some estimates suggest that number is low. The surprising thing, though, is where some of them are located.

Throughout the Southern United States, you’ll often find three-pronged leaves with hairy vines swallowing entire sections of forests. It can be a beautiful sight at first glance. But the invasive plant causes persistent ecological problems in the region. We look at the efforts to tackle the ‘vine that ate the south.’

The Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Ohio-based festival over the years has hosted American music icons, like John Prine, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn, while also supporting regional artists. Inside Appalachia’s Abby Neff spoke with festival founder Tim Peacock to learn more.

If your aging parent needs surgery, you might need to take time away from work to care for them. A federal policy called the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives many employees job-protected leave for caregiving. But it has noteworthy limitations.

One in six West Virginians is food insecure. Meaning, 270,000 people in the state regularly don’t know where their next meal will come from. Assistant News Director Maria Young recently toured Mountaineer Food Bank’s greatly expanded, new facility to find out what it takes to meet that need every day – and what it will take in the years to come.

While baseball fields are run of the mill in most communities, there’s a certain type of diamond that’s less common: it’s called a “Miracle Field.” There are three of these in West Virginia – in Morgantown, Wheeling and Green River. These are accessible baseball facilities that can accommodate players with disabilities.

Black bears now inhabit all 55 counties of West Virginia, and bear encounters are on the rise across Appalachia. Climate change is often a hidden culprit. But state wildlife managers are working to promote peaceful coexistence.

Monsters in the workplace? Maybe. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is developing a team building game using Appalachian cryptids like Bigfoot and the Flatwoods Monster. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Jessica Hammer, associate professor and director of the university’s Center for Transformational Play, to learn more.

America’s foster care crisis is serious for nearly 400,000 kids who rely on the system. In the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks into the shortage of licensed foster homes – and the wide range of agencies and nonprofit organizations who offer help navigating what can be a complicated system.

Researchers have spent almost two decades restoring a threatened species of orchid in southern Kentucky. But those efforts were disrupted when an EF-4 tornado swept through the area in May 2025, carving visible lines in the landscape. We learn about recovery efforts.

Unpredictable weather is making it harder for amphibians to survive in West Virginia and elsewhere, but we learn about an effort to protect them. Also, the WVU Cancer Institute is enrolling pancreatic cancer patients for a promising, first-in-human clinical trial.

It’s been a year-and-a-half since Hurricane Helene ravaged central Appalachia. Communities are still recovering, including those who were already in recovery for addiction.

A small federal grant program aimed at increasing first-time farmer’s access to land, training and tools was finding fertile ground in West Virginia. But in March, the Trump administration suddenly terminated it, leaving local partners uncertain about their futures.

Last weekend was the first anniversary of a tornado that devastated communities in nearby southern Kentucky. A Day of Remembrance event honored those who lost their lives, and reflected on a year of recovery. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Shepherd Snyder has this report.

On this West Virginia Morning, the price of gas has skyrocketed, but how do you know if you would save money with an electric vehicle?

On this West Virginia Morning, an historic steam locomotive that occupied Nashville’s Centennial Park for decades will soon hit the rails again.

On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachian music comes in all kinds. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Mason Salomeini, organizer of electronic music celebration Dungeon Fest.

On this West Virginia Morning, psychedelic drugs might find acceptance as a treatment potential for mental health conditions and drug addictions.

On this West Virginia Morning, Secretary of State Kris Warner provided an election night update on voter turnout and results from Tuesday’s primary election.

On this West Virginia Morning, a conversation about some of the challenges that lie ahead for hospitals and those who need them in the Mountain State.

On this West Virginia Morning, an intimate look at the work of the crisis teams responding to the opioid crisis.

A plan to funnel millions of dollars in oil and gas royalties toward conservation efforts is getting support from an unexpected group. From The Allegheny Front, we learn about fracking proposals in southeastern Ohio – and what WVU researchers say could be the impact on wildlife.

Across the country, old railroads have been converted into multi-use trails for folks to get out and enjoy nature. Chris Schulz has more on an ambitious vision to connect communities in West Virginia to Pittsburgh via rail trail.

Prices at fuel pumps have surged since the United States went to war with Iran. But the Middle East conflict is also having major impacts on international shipping and supply chains. Those issues are taking a major toll on Appalachian corn farmers.

In an effort to attract more horse racing competitors this year to West Virginia, the state Legislature increased the funding cap to $2 million for certain races – and neighboring states are taking similar action.  When Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, his owner, trainer and jockey won an estimated $3.1 million winning purse.  For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports much of that growth can be attributed to increased gambling on historical horse racing games. 

Mills Kelly is a lifelong hiker and Appalachian Trail scholar. He shares the trail’s history and more on “The Green Tunnel Podcast.” He’s also written several books, including his most recent, called “A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail.” Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Kelly to learn more.

Two weeks ago, on April 16, John Lucas was run over by an ambulance from the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority at 2 a.m. in Elkview. And then he was dragged for nearly two miles. He died from his injuries. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with the family’s attorney, Scott Summers, and brings us this interview.

As temperatures rise and people start heading outside, the chance of contracting a tick-borne illness goes up. Cases of Lyme disease have seen a sharp rise in recent years, so reporter Chris Schulz recently spoke with Dr. Kane Maiers, associate medical director for UPMC GoHealth Urgent Care in West Virginia, to learn more.

The Greenbank Observatory is offering a limited chance to go behind the scenes to check out its Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). SETI tours are offered to small groups – ages 12 and up – several times a month through October. We caught up with the Observatory’s news manager to find out more about the tours – and what exactly scientists there are looking for.

There are still many questions that surround the chemical incident near Institute last week that killed two workers. Chris Schulz spoke with Dr. Christopher Martin, a specialist in occupational and environmental medicine at West Virginia University (WVU), to try and shed some light on what happened.