Helping Hellbenders Help Water Health, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, an unattractive, slimy, two-foot salamander may hold the key to detecting healthy water ways in West Virginia. 

The Eastern Hellbender is now officially known as Kentucky’s first-ever state amphibian. The species was once abundant along the waterways of Appalachia, but it’s struggled to maintain a foothold amid climate change and human activity. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WKYU’s Hope Heffley has more on conservation efforts across the region.

Also a severe and long-lasting gastrointestinal illness is on the rise in West Virginia. The state Department of Health now shows there have been 139 identified cases of cyclosporiasis across the state, up from 69 less than a week ago.

And candidates for the Fifth Family Court Circuit, which covers Mason, Jackson and Wirt Counties, have just about one month to get their applications submitted to replace Judge Constance Thomas, who will retire at the end of August. 

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 Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

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