On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about using common roadside plants to make natural dyes for fabrics. Also, folk hero and storytelling master Steve Poltz has our Mountain Stage Song of the Week.

On this West Virginia Morning, every summer, fireflies emerge for a few weeks — sending love signals in the dark. Those fireflies — including synchronous ones — are the stars of a festival at a farm in Forest County, Pennsylvania. As WPSU’s Anne Danahy reports, that farm draws both firefly fans — and researchers — looking to learn more about lightning bugs.

Hundreds of thousands of people with mental illnesses are caught up in a criminal justice system that was never intended to treat them. This encore Us & Them episode was part of a series that was honored with a first place award from Virginia’s Associated Press Broadcasters for “Public Service Through Journalism.” In this report, we hear what it’s like to live with mental illness behind bars in the Mountain State.

On this West Virginia Morning, imagine packing all the highlights of things to do in West Virginia into one fun-filled trip. That’s what the inaugural Governor’s School for Tourism did recently for several dozen high school students. But as Maria Young reports, there are some high hopes riding on the career choices these students will make in the years ahead.

On this West Virginia Morning, John Michael Cummings is an author in Harpers Ferry. He’s published three novels, two novellas and many short stories. Cummings recently spoke with Bill Lynch about writing and his latest collection of short stories, The Spirit in My Shoes, available from Cornerstone Press.

On this West Virginia Morning, the Eastern Panhandle saw major military activity in the Civil War. But, driving through the region today, you wouldn’t know some of these historic sites exist. Also, in this show, one group in Morgantown has found a way to read and socialize in silence.

This week on Inside Appalachia, we visit with a West Virginia man who shows his love for fishing by building exquisite, handmade fly rods. It’s a long process, but he shares his knowledge with others. We also spill the tea on a classic roadside attraction in Chester, West Virginia.

On this West Virginia Morning, cases of seniors being scammed by strangers, or even victimized by loved ones and caretakers, are common in West Virginia and the country at large. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia William Ihlenfeld prosecutes these crimes far too often. He spoke with Chris Schulz to raise awareness of these crimes and how to avoid them.

On this West Virginia Morning, writer Jonathan Corcoran grew up in Elkins. While in college, his mother discovered he was gay. She disowned him and told him to never come back to West Virginia. She died in 2020. They never reconciled. Corcoran, a writing professor at New York University, has written a book, No Son of Mine, which explores grief and his relationship with his mother.

On this West Virginia Morning, roughly 20,000 people traveled to Braxton County for an annual Bigfoot Festival hosted in the small town of Sutton. One of them was Reporter Briana Heaney, who spoke to festival goers about the annual celebration of cryptids.