NPR

There’s a structure to what you hear on West Virginia Public Radio that’s about to change.

Each show on the station is governed by a “clock.” These graphical representations of each hour lay out what happens in a program and when.  

Whether it’s a newscast, a promotion for what is coming up later in the show, or a regular segment such as West Virginia Morning or the Marketplace Morning Report, it all happens at a precise time according to the clock. This clock is how we coordinate between hosts that are in NPR’s studios in Washington, D.C. and beyond, and West Virginia Public Radio’s hosts who are in our studios in Charleston, so we don’t end up talking over each other.

On West Virginia Morning, Jessica Lilly talks with NPR’s Howard Berkes about his investigation that links delinquent fines for mine safety violations to more injured coal miners.  And schools in Mingo County are no longer under state control after the state board of education gave back control to the local school board yesterday, but the board remains concerned about educational conditions in Fayette County.

This week's episode features Elizabeth Wells McIlvain helps employ 1,000 people in West Virginia, making Fiesta ware.And we learn that the number of jobs created by the Kentucky Bourbon Distillery industry has doubled in the last two years. We'll also explore some eccentric roadside attractions, including a Ventriloquist museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.

NPR has a new president and CEO.  Jarl Mohn was once a music DJ, but he says he has a passion for  public radio. That's why he chaired Southern California Public Radio after making his career in cable TV as President and CEO of E-Entertainment Television.

On West Virginia Morning a report about the correlation between climate change and a rise in allergies and asthma.   Beth Vorhees talks with Jarl Mohn, the new president and CEO of NPR.  He visited Charleston yesterday.

http://www.npr.org/about-npr/310991669/npr-names-jarl-mohn-president-and-ceo

We're ready to announce the winner in our March Madness...Public Media Style tournament. 

Beth Vorhees, News Director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, has been crowned as our first ever champion, garnering more than 70% of votes over her final round competition, Carl Kassell.

We've reached the Championship Round of our March Madness...Public Media Style Tournament!

Our final contestants?

We're down to the final four contestants in our March Madness...Public Media Style Tournament. 

It's a powerhouse group consisting of 2 local WV Public Broadcasting reporters, a PBS superstar and an NPR legend. We'll know you'll need some time to make your decisions, so voting will be open until Midnight on Sunday, March 29.

You can vote in the form below. If you don't see the form, follow this direct link to the cast your votes.

There's only 16 contestants left, and the choices keep getting tougher.

You can vote now in the third round of our March Madness Public Media Style Tournament.

Here are a few things we've learned so far:

  Voting in 2nd of March Madness..Public Media Style continues until Midnight on Wednesday. That's mean's there still time to make your vote count. There are plenty of close races in doubt; you can find the current standings at the bottom of the page.  

We're down to 32 contestants left in March Madness..Public Media Style.

The second round is chock full of compelling matchups and tough choices:

There's no timeouts left, but you still have a chance to make your vote count.

1st round voting ends Sunday at midnight in our March Madness tournament.

Several contests have razor thin margins, including a PBS showndown where Miranda Hart (Call the Midwife) now lead Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) by just 3 votes.  You can see all the current results below.

We're also eagerly anticipating some of the expected 2nd round matchups.

Voting continues today in March Madness...Public Media Style.

You can find the current results below, but first these shocking (or not) developments:

1. Our Locals are doing great.

UPDATE 3/31:  We're down to the Championship Round, and it's your votes that decide who advances and who goes home.

You can vote in the form below. If you don't see the form, follow this direct link to the cast your votes.

The lush, dark, and atmospheric sounds Twin Cities band The Pines evoke the steely autumn breeze coming off the shore of Lake Superior, where this week's premiere episode of Mountain Stage was recorded.

Find your local affiliate and listen to the entire show this week.

Square dancing, once a pillar of small-town life, is making a comeback in West Virginia. A statewide project is trying to help communities preserve and promote this part of their cultural heritage.

Marlinton, W.Va., is one of the towns taking up the cause. Its square dances can gather a crowd, but residents still worry about attracting the attention of the next generation.

If you go to a square dance in Marlinton, there are some rules to follow. First of all, leave your stereotypes at the door, says Becky Hill, who works on The Mountain Dance Trail initiative.