, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

GOP Maintains Majorities In W.Va. House, Senate

Republicans maintained their majorities in the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates on Tuesday night.

The GOP flipped at least one seat in the Senate. Laura Wakim Chapman, an attorney from Wheeling, won the First District Senate seat over Democrat and former Delegate Randy Swartzmiller, who had defeated incumbent Owens Brown in the May primary.

The GOP won all eight Senate races that had been called by The Associated Press, giving Republicans at least 22 of the 34 Senate seats. Half of the chamber was not up for reelection.

Democrats had needed to win seven seats currently occupied by the GOP in the Senate and 29 seats in the House of Delegates to retake control. Entering the general election, Republicans held advantages of 23-11 in the state Senate and 78-22 in the House.

One-fourth of the races on the ballot had no Democratic candidates. Democrats’ chances of cutting into the GOP’s stronghold also were minimized by being outnumbered by Republican voters in 35 of the state’s 55 counties.

Democrats had hoped to seize on the abortion issue to turn things around, urging voters to go to the polls after the Republican governor signed a sweeping abortion ban with few exceptions in September.

Democrats long ruled the state on the strength of their strong union presence and a clear identity as the party of working people, holding supermajorities in both chambers as recently as 2008. But in the 2014 general election, voters in the coal-dependent state steered their disgust toward Democratic President Barack Obama’s efforts to cut carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Obama was so unpopular in West Virginia that a federal inmate in Texas received 41% of the vote in the state’s 2012 Democratic presidential primary.

Republicans took control of both legislative chambers after the 2014 election.

Amendment 2 And Higher Ed Mental Health On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, Government Reporter Randy Yohe brings us this final preview of ‘Amendment 2’ as voters head to the polls for the 2022 General Election.

On this West Virginia Morning, Government Reporter Randy Yohe brings us this final preview of ‘Amendment 2’ as voters head to the polls for the 2022 General Election.

Also, in this show, every two years, colleges across the country participate in the National College Health Assessment. At Concord University, more than 25 percent of students scored high on the suicide behavior survey. Administrators at Concord were already seeing students on waiting lists to see the campus counselor. Jessica Lilly spoke with the Dean of Students Sarah Beasley to find out more.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Single-Member Districts And Flood Recovery Research, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginians will vote Tuesday in new districts after the state redistricting in 2021. For some voters, it will be the first time they elect only one delegate to the House.

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginians will vote Tuesday in new districts after the state redistricting in 2021. For some voters, it will be the first time they elect only one delegate to the House. Chris Schulz has the story.

Also, in this show, six years have passed since the 2016 flood in southern West Virginia that killed 23 people and ravaged communities like White Sulphur Springs and Rainelle. Despite that, researchers say the state does not have a long-term flood recovery plan. Reporter Shepherd Snyder spoke with WVU researcher and Assistant Professor of Geography Jamie Shinn on her project studying how residents of Greenbrier County recovered from the flood, and how the results could shape more effective flood responses both at the state and national levels in the future.

In Washington, D.C., President Joe Biden is getting pushback from Sen. Joe Manchin for comments he made on the campaign trail about coal. The President called for coal plants to be shut down Friday in California and replaced with wind and solar. Curtis Tate reports.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Snake Handling Church Music And Our Song Of The Week On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, snake handling churches play a style of Appalachian music few know much about. That music is the subject of a new podcast called “Alabama Astronaut.” Folkways Reporter Zack Harold recently spoke with co-host Abe Partridge about how a project intended to document this music ended up being about a whole lot more.

On this West Virginia Morning, snake handling churches play a style of Appalachian music few know much about. That music is the subject of a new podcast called “Alabama Astronaut.” Folkways Reporter Zack Harold recently spoke with co-host Abe Partridge about how a project intended to document this music ended up being about a whole lot more.

Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from the multi-faceted musician, singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, known for her hit songs in the 1990s. We listen to “You Are My Balloon” — a song inspired by her children.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Amelia Knisely, Bill Lynch, Caroline MacGregor, Curtis Tate, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Jessica Lilly, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe, and Shepherd Snyder.

Eric Douglas is our news director and our producer.

Teresa Wills and Chuck Anziulewicz are our hosts.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Exploring Snake Handling Church Music And Going Hands On With Traditional Tanning

This week on Inside Appalachia, we talk to podcaster Abe Partridge about a uniquely Appalachian art — the religious music heard in snake handling churches. We also travel to southern West Virginia and talk real estate. The Itmann Coal Company Store building is up for sale, and the owner’s looking for a buyer who appreciates its history. And, it’s hunting season. We visit with women who tan deer hides — using animal brains.

This week on Inside Appalachia, we talk to podcaster Abe Partridge about a uniquely Appalachian art — the religious music heard in snake handling churches.

We also travel to southern West Virginia and talk real estate. The Itmann Coal Company Store building is up for sale, and the owner’s looking for a buyer who appreciates its history. And, it’s hunting season. We visit with women who tan deer hides – using animal brains.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

New Worlds Of Music

Snake handling churches have long fascinated people, but the culture of these churches is much broader than some would imagine and still not very well understood. They also play a style of Appalachian music that’s largely gone undocumented. That music is the subject of a new podcast called “Alabama Astronaut.”

Reporter Zack Harold recently spoke with co-host Abe Partridge about how a project intended to document this music ended up being about a whole lot more.

History For Sale

A lot of mountain communities are trying to inject new life by redeveloping their historic buildings. An example is the Itmann Company Store, built in Wyoming County, West Virginia in the 1920s from native sandstone.

But the mines in Itmann closed in the mid-80s, and the building fell into disuse and neglect.

Now, there’s a new push to sell the old company store, which needs extensive repairs. The new owner is looking to sell for $500,000 per building that just recently was valued at $25,000.

Jessica Lilly spoke with realtor and historian David Sibray about selling a local landmark that’s listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

Hands On Experience

Tanning hides for clothes, blankets, shoes, for all kinds of things goes back millennia, but over the years some tanning techniques have become less common — like brain tanning.

As it turns out, women in Appalachia are reclaiming the practice. Clara Haizlett, a brain tanner herself, brought us the story.

——

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Coots Duo, The Company Stores and John Inghram.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.

And you can sign-up for our Inside Appalachia Newsletter here!

Allegations Of Abuse Surface In State-Run Facilities, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, people with disabilities are being abused in state-run facilities, and lawmakers want answers from the state health department. Amelia Knisely has the story.

On this West Virginia Morning, people with disabilities are being abused in state-run facilities, and lawmakers want answers from the state health department. Amelia Knisely has the story.

Also, in this show, Mercer County leaders have repurposed 23 acres of woodland once used for forestry research into a recreational area. And its two miles of trails offer more than hiking. They also have a lot of history and learning opportunities. Jessica Lilly takes us there in this report.

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 West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning