NPR

Back in March, Inside Appalachia aired a report about a rise in the number of chronic black lung cases. Since then, NPR’s ongoing investigation uncovered an additional 1,000 cases of the worst form of black lung disease in Appalachia. 

Childcare costs are high no matter where you are in the country. But in West Virginia, it's even worse - according to a 2016 report by the think tank New America and Care.com, parents in the Mountain State shoulder the highest cost burden, spending about 45 percent of the state's median household income on childcare.

On West Virginia Morning, an interview with NPR investigative reporter Howard Berkes who has found a sharp increase in the number of coal miners with black lung disease and JD Souther and Nellie McKay are along with our Mountain Stage song of the week.

That’s on West Virginia Morning from West Virginia Public Broadcasting – telling West Virginia’s story.

When R.E.M. appeared on NPR's Mountain Stage on April 28, 1991, they were one of the biggest bands in the world. Though when they released Out of Time, in March of that year, they decided against touring behind it, opting for media appearances instead. One of these appearances was Mountain Stage.

It's election season and we want to know what Appalachians are looking for in a new president. We’ll hear from a former coal miner from Whitesburg, Ky, Gary Bentley. We'll also hear from a veteran who lives in Bristol, Va., Ralph Slaughter.

On West Virginia Morning, statehouse reporter Ashton Marra has the latest from the special session of the legislature where there is no clear solution for the 2017 state budget.  And Inside Appalachia host Jessica Lilly talks with Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep about the program’s recent visit to the Appalachian region.   

These stories on West Virginia Morning from West Virginia Public Broadcasting – telling West Virginia’s story.

It's election season and we want to know what Appalachians are looking for in a new president. We’ll hear from a former coal miner from Whitesburg, Ky, Gary Bentley. We'll also hear from a veteran who lives in Bristol, Va., Ralph Slaughter.

On West Virginia Morning, a special report from Appalachia Health News contributor Jessie Wright-Mendoza about HIV and AIDS care in southern West Virginia.

That's on West Virginia Morning from West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Telling West Virginia's story.

A report released Monday by NPR tracks the amount of money spent on each student across the country by county. But representatives of the West Virginia Department of Education say the data reported doesn’t add up in West Virginia.

NPR and the national publication Education Week attribute their spending numbers to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their map says in West Virginia, McDowell County spent the most at $14,000 per student in 2013. Jefferson County, according to the map, spent the least per pupil at around $8,000.

But Amy Willard, Executive Director of School Finance for the West Virginia Department of Education, says the numbers don’t match state spending records.

On West Virginia Morning, Beth Vorhees sits down with the NPR Diversity Team to talk about NPR’s initiative to bring a variety of voices to its coverage.  And Glynis Board reports on a new study from WVU about power plant emissions and it’s effect on vultures. 

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

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.