West Virginia Public Broadcasting will continue to air the House of Representatives’ Public Impeachment Hearings next week beginning Tuesday, November 19. Hearings are expected to continue Wednesday and Thursday of next week beginning at 9 a.m. each day.
NPR Live Coverage will air on WVPB’s statewide public radio network and PBS NewsHour’s Special Coverage will air on The West Virginia Channel on television. A repeat broadcast of each day’s PBS NewsHour’s Special Coverage will air on The West Virginia Channel starting at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, November 19, morning testimony will include Jennifer Williams (a State Department official advising the vice president’s office) and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (a National Security Council staffer). The afternoon will feature Kurt Volker (the former U.S. special representative to Ukraine) and Tim Morrison (a National Security Council staffer).
On Wednesday, November 20, US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland will testify in the morning. Defense Department official Laura Cooper and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale will testify in the afternoon.
On Thursday, November 21, former National Security Council staffer Fiona Hill is scheduled to testify.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting will air live coverage of the House of Representatives’ Public Impeachment Hearings this Wednesday, November 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
NPR Live Coverage will air on the statewide public radio network and PBS NewsHour’s Special Coverage will air on The West Virginia Channel on television.
WVPB also will stream the coverage live on its YouTube channel. A repeat broadcast of PBS NewsHour’s Special Coverage will air on The West Virginia Channel from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
The West Virginia Public Broadcasting team, along with many of its great friends, will read the book “Thank You, Omu!” by Oge Mora to children across the Mountain State on Thursday, November 7, as part of Jumpstart’s international initiative, ‘Read for the Record’.
Kelly Griffith, WVPB’s education specialist, says all of West Virginia’s 55 counties are covered by 200 readers taking place at 54 libraries, 53 schools, Head Start programs, home school situations, after-school programs and day care facilities.
“Children with strong literacy skills are more likely to succeed in every grade,” Griffith, a 16-year veteran teacher, said. “A love of reading can fuel a passion for learning that benefits children for years to come. I’m so proud that we will be reading to more than 4,000 children across West Virginia.”
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to give a little bit back to the communities across the state. It’s also one of my favorite parts of the job, spending time with energetic kids while supporting literacy programs,” said Chuck Roberts, WVPB’s executive director. “We’re taking our mission to educate, inform and inspire straight to little West Virginians and we think they will love this book.”
“Thank You, Omu”, a Caldecott Honor book, is about sharing and giving thanks as told by a generous woman who shares her delicious pot of stew with many of her neighbors until there is none left for herself and the unexpected and wonderful things that happen then.
Jumpstart is a nonprofit early education organization with the core belief that every child has the potential to succeed.
Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns,
In Tune: A Community of Musicians
focus of free community event
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Public Broadcasting is hosting an evening celebrating both old-time and country music in Charleston.
A limited number of tickets remain for the special event that will include a reception, extended previews of Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary County Music and WVPB’s documentary film In Tune: A Community of Musicians and a panel discussion.
The event will be Thursday, August 22, at 6:30 p.m., at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. It’s free and open to the public, but reservations are required.
Panelists include Susan Shumaker, a member of the Ken Burns production team from Morgantown, W.Va.; Emily Hilliard, West Virginia State Folklorist; Russ Barbour, producer, In Tune; along with local old-time musicians featured in In Tune, Kim Johnson of Kanawha County, Cody Jordan of Mason County, Bobby Taylor of Roane County and John Morris of Clay County.
WVPB Executive Director Chuck Roberts said the evening is not just for people who think of themselves as music connoisseurs.
“Country music and old-time music have touched all of our lives and these amazing films by PBS’ Ken Burns and our own Russ Barbour are going to show how talented West Virginia musicians contributed to their respective genres throughout history,” Roberts said. “Prepare to be informed and entertained!”
Country Music is an eight-part, 16-hour documentary focused on the history of country music across the United States up through the 1990s. During the Charleston screening, viewers will get a look at some excerpts from the film featuring artists from West Virginia and their impact on the Mountain State’s rich country music heritage.
In Tune takes a look at the popularization of what was called “hillbilly music,” which grew out of what became known as old-time music in the first half of the 20th Century. The documentary also explores customs and music culture; the impact of the American Folk Revival; rediscovery of old-time musicians; the arrival of back-to-landers in Appalachia; and the growing popularity of old-time music festivals.
In Tune will air on WVPB’s statewide network on Sept. 14, at 8 p.m., and the first part of Country Music will air on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. Both documentaries will be available for streaming on WVPB Passport thereafter.
To learn more about the films and this event, please visit wvpublic.org/intune.
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Another public screening of In Tune: A Community of Musicians will take place at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown on Monday, October 21, at 7 p.m., at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education Auditorium. The event is sponsored by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities.
Several West Virginia artists are featured prominently in Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns, an eight-part, 16-hour documentary that begins airing Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. on WVPB television.
Where do we learn how to have a democratic dialog these days? Perhaps Parkersburg?
It’s not really a skill taught in schools, and depending on your political, religious, socio-economic status, or even favorite football team, the chances of you not wholly agreeing with your neighbor, friend, relative or city council member is high. If we can’t take more from a conversation than the fact that we disagree, how do we work together in a polarized world to develop shared solutions for the betterment of our communities?
“Is it worthwhile to try to talk to people who disagree with us?” asked Jean Ambrose, coordinator of the Civic Life Institute, which is presented by the West Virginia Center for Civic Life at WVU Parkersburg. It’s a question she hopes Us & Them host Trey Kay can help answer during next week’s event as he presents his Top Ten conversation skills to help participants facilitate discussions that are divisive.
“I’m not sure anyone knows better than Trey how to have a difficult conversation,” Ambrose said. “He’s a skilled listener and interviewer and he always steps away from tough interviews having learned so much from people. Sometimes he ends up with a new friend. He’s the ideal person to help us learn how to listen and develop skills we need to have a true democratic dialog so we can help our communities thrive.”
Trey plans to share excerpts from interviews, including one where he became so upset he felt like he was having a heart attack.
“Listening to understand isn’t easy, but when you do it well, you help others feel heard, validated and respected and don’t we all need that for greater understanding?” he asked. “There’s something powerful in the gift you give people when you listen empathetically to them and your only job is to truly hear them.” The Institute kicks off at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 18, and runs through Friday, July 19, at 4 p.m. Registration is open and information is available wvciviclife.org.
