Black Lives Matter

On this West Virginia Morning, Kanawha County and the city of Charleston are experiencing the most troubling HIV outbreak in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, in this show, the city of Huntington is leading a wellness program for first responders, and in Harlan County, Kentucky, an ensemble called Higher Ground decided to make a play about 2020.

On this West Virginia Morning, we share our final story in our series “Plugging the Brain Drain.” We talk with three young chefs about the opportunities they see in West Virginia and elsewhere. Also, in this show, we visit an art exhibit in Beckley called “Social Studies” that is displaying visual art that relates to local, national and even global social standards.

An exhibit in Beckley called “Social Studies” is displaying visual art that relates to local, national and even global social standards.

On this West Virginia Morning, we explore how the pandemic has affected West Virginia’s economy and how it will impact recovery. Also, we hear reports on a second West Virginian charged for taking part in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the latest on schools reopening to in-person instruction, and we hear a story from the Ohio Valley ReSource series Black Lives in Red States.

Two Kentucky theater students thought 2020 would be the year they produced a provocative play. But then came the pandemic. And then protests about racial injustice.

A Black Lives Matter march in the tiny town of Kingwood, West Virginia set up a flash point. Black protestors and their allies faced off with heavily-armed white people who say Kingwood has no race problem. The event exposed the raw seam of rage that’s come to define racism in this country. In this episode, host Trey Kay speaks with West Virginia Delegate Danielle Walker, who is pushing back at the fear and outrage of racial hatred in America.

On this West Virginia Morning, we hear from a few West Virginia state lawmakers who highlight goals they hope to tackle in the upcoming legislative session. Also, in this show, we learn about a toy drive in Wyoming County that enlisted the help of local fire departments to deliver toys to families in need during the pandemic, and we hear about a new series from the Ohio Valley ReSource called Black Lives in Red States.

What are communities in Appalachia doing to address racism? The death of George Floyd and others at the hands of police sparked hundreds of demonstrations over the summer, and a national reckoning on police reform and systemic racism. Those conversations are happening here in Appalachia, too.

On this West Virginia Morning, we hear from residents of Bluefield, where one of the state’s only citizen review panels for local police exist. Also, in this show, we hear about the latest pushback to the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

On this West Virginia Morning, across the country many Black Lives Matter advocates are pushing for a tool that helps citizens police the police — a citizen review panel. One town is West Virginia has had one for decades. Also, in this show, we hear regional reports on the coronavirus pandemic and voter turnout.