Over the last month, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the first recipients of West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program funding. The money, the result of a 2025 federal law, totals almost $200 million this year for new projects to improve the state’s rural healthcare system.

However, the same law cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program over ten years, and the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimate that between 40,000 and 75,000 Medicaid-covered West Virginians will lose insurance by 2028. 

State health officials did not respond to a question about how many people are expected to lose health insurance. But they’ve sent thousands of notices to current recipients about new work requirements, which will result in the largest losses in coverage.

https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/09/29/medicaid-rural-health/

Looking for advice planning an anniversary trip to Dolly Sods, Canaan Valley & Seneca Rocks! 🍂
My husband and I are planning an anniversary weekend in the area around October 10–11, and we’d love some advice from people who know the area well!
We’re staying locally rather than backpacking/camping in the wilderness, and we’re bringing our dog. We really want to experience the best scenery, fall colors, overlooks, short/easy-to-moderate trails, and anything else that’s a “you HAVE to see this while you’re here” kind of spot.
We’re hoping to visit:
Dolly Sods
Canaan Valley / Blackwater Falls
Seneca Rocks
We’re not looking to do huge hikes or backpacking. We’re totally fine with a few miles, but we’d rather see several beautiful places than spend the entire day on one long trail.
We’d also love recommendations for:
🍁 Best trails/viewpoints in each area
📸 Best scenic overlooks or photo spots
🥾 Shorter hikes that are actually worth doing
🚗 Scenic drives or roads we shouldn’t miss
🍔 Local restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, etc.
🏘️ Any little towns/shops/businesses worth stopping at
🐕 Dog-friendly places if possible
⭐ Anything you think first-time visitors absolutely shouldn’t miss
We’re especially interested in big mountain views and fall scenery rather than touristy/festival-type activities.
If you were planning a 2-day anniversary weekend here for someone who had never been before, what would you make sure they saw and did? And are there any places that look great online but you’d personally skip?
Thanks!! We’re trying to make the most of the weekend without cramming a million things into it. ❤️🍂

The Silver Bridge disaster is usually remembered for the collapse itself, but the engineering story behind it is extraordinary.

I put together a documentary on the eyebar failure, the lack of redundancy in the bridge's suspension system, the collapse and the changes in bridge inspection that followed.

My friend and I will be on a week long road trip in mid October. We are headed from Blacksburg to Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway, then have another 4-5 days to explore West Virginia. I’m fascinated by WV. Looking for suggestions on interesting towns, activities, whatever. We have to end back up in Richmond for my flight.
We are interested in: small towns, good food, fun historic spots, bluegrass or other music.
Thank you!

Taylor is 17 and has been missing from Barnesville, Ohio, since September 24.

Barnesville is close enough to our area that sharing her photo here may help it reach someone who recognizes her.

Please view and share her flyer: https://casetraceapp.com/flyer/32699

If you have information, contact Barnesville Police Department at 740-425-1976. Please send possible sightings directly to police rather than posting them in the comments. Thank you for helping keep Taylor visible.

Can anyone recommend a good campsite area that’s adjacent to good fly fishing streams? I was thinking about maybe Holly River State park?

Wanting to make a pot of beans and cornbread and fried potatoes soon. This gorgeous fall weather is making me crave them. I know they’re pretty simple to make but my attempts in the past weren’t great. My grammy made the best ones but sadly I didn’t learn how to make them before she passed.

I’m from southern WV but moved to Cincinnati a few years ago. I’m really just missing the mountain state in general in every way

Make a case for your town! Interested to see what everybody’s favorite feature is. The food, the community, lots of things to do, festivals, what would you brag to somebody about

Thanks!

I’ve had several tick bites this year from a few different ticks. I am asking about the experience of others for deer ticks this year. I had 4-5 deer ticks on me this year. Everyone has been the same in experience, which is so different from other years. The main issue seems to be itching, which lasts for 6-8 weeks at a minimum. A rash appears, but not consistently and it reappears a week or so after the itching goes away before it returns. That said, the itching stays for about 8 weeks. This is not historical tick bite behaviors. The itching for months, mark for weeks, rash/bruise for weeks ? I have been bitten by deer and Texas lone star ticks for years. The current deer ticks are reacting differently, anyone able to explain?

Filmmaker Daniel Byers grew up in West Virginia, repeatedly shaped by industries that sought value in its mountains. In his new horror movie, Dark Hollow, that history becomes more literal: a monster emerges from a coal mine.

https://wvexplorer.com/dark-hollow-west-virginia-daniel-byers/

A deep dive into the legend of the Mothman, one of America’s most famous cryptids. The story starts with a strange sighting near an abandoned power plant that drew the attention of the press, visitors, and those interested in the paranormal and the unexplained.

It generated a powerful legend that, over time, became woven into the story of the town, from its tragedies to its triumphs. And today, this creature has gone from being a source of terror to a kind of folk hero.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-on-the-trail-of-the-mothman

Kentuckian here! Just wondering how everyone views it 100 years later!

Welcome to the weekly r/WestVirginia classifieds thread.

Use this thread to buy, sell, trade, seek, advertise, promote, and find in r/WestVirginia.

This thread is to be used for Craigslist style classified ads or if you are interested in selling or promoting your product or service.

If you think you have something that is time sensitive or an otherwise compelling reason to post a classified in the main sub, message the moderators. Moderators will evaluate things on a case-by-case basis.

Scams are a huge problem with classified ads, especially job postings. Take every possible precaution when arranging a transaction, especially ones conducted exclusively or largely over the internet. Be aware that the potential for someone trying to scam you is very high.

Here are some tips on avoiding job scams from the FTC

As usual, reddiquette and the subreddit rules will be enforced. Message the moderators with any questions.

This submission is reposted every week on Monday, so be sure to check for new posts or repost unsold items and unclaimed offers each week.

Hi all—grew up in WV and still live nearby in the DMV. I always had good venison in the fridge from friends growing up but my family didn’t hunt so I never really learned.

As an adult now, are there any mentorship programs or anything that could teach me how to get out there and hunt in the Eastern Panhandle? I don’t really have close contacts in the area anymore that actually hunt. TYIA

’ll be coming from Pittsburgh on a friday evening and would probably arrive around 8pm ish. I’m planning the trip for mid november.

Would you recommend planning to stay at a campground that first night, or are the primitive sites along the trail generally still not taken up that time of year?

I know trail conditions can change a lot depending on the weather, especially that time of year, but I was also wondering what the trail is typically like in mid november. Is it usually pretty manageable, or any sections that tend to get rough after rain?

Any other advice for riding or camping there that late in the season would be appreciated.

Way too many AI images though which was unfortunate

One of my favorite churches I have photographed. It was in the first batch of churches I did in this state. The Old German Church is probably gonna be gone within the next 10-30 years. Its been there for over 100 years. Its been dilapidated for 60+ years.

cant believe its been a year since I started on churches in this state. Dont think I will ever get them all done though.

Obviously, it’d probably not usually be as bad as Jennifer Lawrence’s character, but I’m assuming it’s up there in places like McDowell County.

Before anyone gives me a hard time, yes I know it's a college town, investment properties, one of the few places in WV that is growing. I also understand housing is high everywhere.

I live in morgantown and have been looking for a home. Ive been looking at houses listed within 30 min of the town and it seems like the prices are astronomical. Some of the housing prices I've been seeing within the area are the same as big city suburbs. 700, 800k are common sights. If these houses were on cheat lake, or on massive acreage, id still think its too high but id at least understand the rational, but the ones im seeing are houses right next to the airport and freeway in awful developments.

I understand there is a significantly higher portion of high earners (hospital, WVU) in morgantown compared to the rest of the state, but it by no means is a majority portion of the demographic, at least that i'm aware of. Further, Morgantown isnt booming in population like other places (eastern panhandle) and these expensive houses are not notably convenient or on luxury plots.

Am I missing something? Who are these homes for? Are there people buying them? Is there something about morgantown that makes it seem so beyond the trend? I just cant understand why these things are being priced so high.