A Spooky Mountain State Story, This West Virginia Morning

High winds Wednesday fanned more than 20 fires across the state, and the largest of those fires is still burning. Also, we speak with a journalist who has been covering population decline in central Appalachia....

Founded by assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA focuses its energies largely on college campuses like Marshall University. Mason County freshman Branson Tolliver is Marshall’s chapter president. He talks with Randy Yohe on the goals of this growing student movement....

Halloween may be over, but Mountain State spookiness continues on with a new horror film called "Self-Help" shot in locations near Huntington. The film was produced by brothers Erik and Carson Bloomquist. Bill Lynch spoke with Carson about the film and their experience in West Virginia....

Kentucky utility regulators could approve a rate increase for Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities customers. They’ve approved new power plants to meet the electricity demands of data centers. Customers may not have known about the hidden cost they’re paying for two coal plants. Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom Managing Editor Ryan Van Velzer spoke with WVPB’s Curtis Tate about his reporting on those plants....

On this West Virginia Morning, TJ Meadows from the Metro News Network spoke with News Director Eric Douglas about using his background in business and the energy industry to ask questions and shaking things up....

Halloween is more popular than ever. We speak with WVU religious studies professors to learn more about the holiday's rich history....

An influx of cash will provide more than 500 residents at or close to the poverty line in Mercer County $1,500 each month for 16 months. The key here is it’s no strings attached. Also, with delays to federal nutritional benefits expected, the state government is trying to step up to meet the need....

We hear from Huntington-based Facing Hunger Food Bank CEO Cyndi Kirkhart on meeting the challenges faced in getting nutritional food to families in need amid the government shutdown. Also, students in Jefferson County will now have an easier time continuing their education after graduation, and we learn about historic preservation grants available in West Virginia....

There are lots of options for enjoying fall colors across Appalachia. And, America's largest rodent has caused some even larger problems -- but a new national movement that's close to home finds there are reasons to help them out....

Help for federal workers and finding literary inspiration at the nation's first radio astronomy observatory. And, an Appalachian writer drew inspiration from memories of her childhood vision to the Green Bank Observatory....

One in six West Virginians rely on the federal government's SNAP payments for food -- but that money may not come during the shutdown. And, Us & Them examines how the rocky housing market impacts low income families....

Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday that 60 people have been arrested since the state entered into a partnership with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) earlier this year. And a new national report examines some of the factors that influence this state's high obesity rates....

A group of Tucker County residents are asking the Intermediate Court of Appeals for help learning about a proposed power plant in their community. Also, we hear the second part of our look back at reporting from Point Pleasant columnist Mary Hyre as she went from writing about the "Mason County Monster" to the Silver Bridge collapse in a little more than a year....

Across West Virginia on Saturday, at least 20 communities held their own demonstrations and rallies as part of the national 'No Kings' movement. And, we'll examine the role of a newspaper columnist who covered the early sightings of what is now known as Mothman....

West Virginia once again tops an unfortunate national list. And, the author of a new book about paranormal sightings talks about the trouble in gathering the facts....