W.Va.’s Elk Population Slowly Growing In Southern Coalfields

On this West Virginia Morning, there’s a new quadruped moving slowly into the coalfields of southern West Virginia. We’ll hear more about West Virginia’s elk population, and we bring you important updates about how the state and region is working to control the global COVID-19 pandemic.

K-12 schools across the Ohio Valley are canceling face-to-face classes, extending spring break and taking other measures in response to the coronavirus threat. That leaves parents and educators scrambling to meet some unexpected challenges. Becca Schimmel reports.

Gov. Jim Justice updated statewide school closure plans over the weekend in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Glynis Board has more.

The city of Charleston has declared a state of emergency as part of its response to coronavirus. Kara Lofton reports.

In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the state, Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine announced mass bar and restaurant closures. Corey Knollinger has more.

The West Virginia elk reintroduction program is into its fifth year. And the project isn’t growing as fast as expected. However, there is a herd in the Southern Coalfields that’s slowly getting bigger.  

Much of the elk program is modeled after Kentucky’s, which is over 20 years in, and estimates a nearly $3 billion hunting and tourism boost to the economy. Folkways reporter Caitlin Tan spent time exploring the future of West Virginia’s herd and its effects on the state.

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.