daily304's podcast

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Your window into wonderful West Virginia. Sharing news and opportunities from Almost Heaven. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram @daily304

  1. 10h ago

    The Roamin' Capital – West Virginia State Capital, Part 1

    Twenty-five states have changed their minds about the location of their capitals, so West Virginia is in good company. Nonetheless, the back and forth between Wheeling and Charleston makes for one of the Mountain State's most amusing stories. Just shortly after being granted statehood during the Civil War's battle between North and South, West Virginia's capital location became a battle royale between the state's powerbrokers of its north and south, with government records making the trek up and down the Ohio River so frequently, the steamboats seemed to house them more than any great building created just for that purpose.

  2. 4d ago

    daily304 – Episode 09.17.2026

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From WV PRESS – Art and adventure come together in Elkins Something new is landing in the Elkins railyard. The Mon Forest Towns Partnership will unveil a new "canoe kiosk" sculpture on Saturday, September 19, with a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. near the historic Darden Mill. The installation is part of Paint and Paddle, a collaboration involving WVU's Art Education program, local artist Kelson Thorne and the South Branch Career & Technical Center. Canoe kiosks are being installed in nine Mon Forest Towns communities, each featuring a unique design reflecting the character and history of its town. The sculptures also provide visitors with information about nearby hiking, rivers, trails and tourism opportunities. It's a creative way to connect people with both the communities and the outdoor adventures surrounding the Monongahela National Forest. Read more: https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/media-advisory-new-public-art-installation-to-open-in-elkins/ #2 – From WV EXPLORER – See Blennerhassett Island by candlelight Mansion by Candlelight returns to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park on October 9 and 10, offering visitors a completely different way to experience one of West Virginia's most distinctive historic destinations. Guests travel aboard the Island Belle before stepping into an evening of period music, traditional dancing, storytelling and costumed interpreters. Admission also includes a guided mansion tour and horse-drawn wagon ride. An optional Harvest Supper is available by advance reservation. Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett built their elaborate island estate around 1800. A few years later, it became connected to former Vice President Aaron Burr and his mysterious western expedition, ultimately drawing the Blennerhassetts into one of the young nation's most controversial political episodes. The original mansion burned in 1811. Today's reconstructed mansion stands on the historic site, where visitors can experience the story more than two centuries later. Last year's event sold out and some 2026 departure times are already gone, so get your tickets today! Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/blennerhassett-mansion-by-candlelight/ #3 – From WV SBDC – Finding community on a West Virginia river When Pamela Dunlap tried fly fishing for the first time in 2013, she found peace, confidence, friendship and a new connection to the outdoors. Two years later, she created Women, Wine & Waders so other women could experience those things too. Today, the business offers fly-casting clinics, guided adventures, retreats and educational programs on rivers and streams across West Virginia and beyond. Women have found fishing partners, travel companions, support systems and lasting friendships through the program. The business' growth was made possible in part by the West Virginia Small Business Development Center, which provided expert guidance and advice to Dunlap. Read more: https://wvsbdc.com/women-wine-waders-builds-community-through-fly-fishing/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

  3. 5d ago

    daily304 – Episode 09.16.2026

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From BUSINESS FACILITIES MAGAZINE – Why West Virginia? Business Facilities takes a closer look When companies decide where to invest, the questions are pretty straightforward: Is the site ready? Can we get the power? Can we find and keep the workforce? And can we get our product to market? Business Facilities recently put those questions to Christine Davies, Deputy Secretary of the West Virginia Division of Economic Development & Workforce Participation, for a national Q&A on the Mountain State's business advantages. Davies points to energy certainty, site readiness and workforce loyalty as key pieces of West Virginia's pitch. The state's targeted growth sectors include high-capacity data centers, advanced manufacturing and materials, and aerospace manufacturing and maintenance. Workforce programs include customized training grants, apprenticeship support and partnerships with West Virginia's community and technical colleges. Read more: https://businessfacilities.com/why-west-virginia/ #2 – From FEDERAL RESERVE – Small business owners: The Fed wants to hear from you The Federal Reserve's 2026 Small Business Credit Survey gathers information from businesses with fewer than 500 employees about their financial conditions, financing and debt needs and experiences. The resulting data are used by the Federal Reserve and others to better understand what's happening on Main Street. The West Virginia Small Business Development Center is a partner in this year's survey and is encouraging owners and key financial decision-makers of for-profit businesses to participate. Businesses currently operating, recently closed or preparing to launch can take part. Responses are confidential, and the survey takes about 12 minutes. Take the survey: https://fedreserveboard.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38k9xZy8ayEERue?orgID=20261020 #3 – From WV EXPLORER – Now THAT'S a big fish Tyler Harmon decided to take his son fishing on the Ohio River near Ravenswood and invited his father along. About 20 minutes after they started fishing, three generations of the Harmon family were sharing a boat with the heaviest blue catfish ever recorded in West Virginia. The fish weighed 72.75 pounds and measured 48.15 inches long, breaking a state weight record that had stood for less than four months. After the measurements, Harmon released the fish alive back into the Ohio River. There's an even bigger story behind the catch. Blue catfish had disappeared from West Virginia waters before the Division of Natural Resources began restoring the native species in the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in the early 2000s. Since then, the fishery has grown and state records have continued to fall. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/west-virginia-blue-catfish-record-ohio-river/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

  4. 6d ago

    daily304 – Episode 09.15.2026

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From WV EXPLORER – The West Virginia town that helped pave America There's a bend in the Ohio River where West Virginia helped build American cities one brick at a time. More than 20 brick plants once operated around New Cumberland, producing millions of bricks that traveled by river and rail to communities across the country. The concentration was so great that riverboat crews called the area "Brickyard Bend." Historian Jeanne Grimm writes that New Cumberland was considered the brick capital of the United States from about 1840 to 1910. Hancock County had extensive clay deposits, including fire clays useful for products that could withstand extreme heat. New Cumberland's location on the Ohio River also gave manufacturers access to distant markets long before the railroad arrived. West Virginia bricks found their way to streets in Wheeling and Steubenville and to projects as far away as New Jersey and South Carolina. Later, local manufacturers increasingly produced heat-resistant brick for steelmaking and other heavy industries. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/new-cumberland-west-virginia-brick-capital/ #2 – From ONLY IN YOUR STATE – Davis looks like a storybook in the fall West Virginia's fall color begins in the high Alleghenies, making the Davis and Thomas area one of the first places leaf peepers head each season. Davis sits along the Blackwater River on the edge of the Monongahela National Forest. Once a timber town nicknamed "Stumptown," Davis has evolved into a destination built around art and outdoor recreation. Just three miles away, Blackwater Falls State Park surrounds its famous 57-foot waterfall with autumn color. Canaan Valley offers another view from above with a scenic chairlift, while Dolly Sods Wilderness and the Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail provide plenty of ways to explore on foot. Then there's the Leaf Peepers Festival, held the last weekend in September with a firemen's parade, live music, the Run For It race, food and craft vendors and family activities. Peak color varies with the weather, but late September through the first half of October is typically the prime window for this beautiful area of the state. Read more: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/storybook-fall-town-wv #3 – From THE REAL WV – From Charleston to the music charts Stephen Thomas is taking West Virginia roots into a music career that's crossing genres and reaching audiences around the country. The Charleston native has found growing national recognition through rock and alternative music, major radio and Billboard chart appearances and a crossover into country. His work stretches across rock, pop, R&B and country. But Thomas' conversation with The Real WV goes beyond music. It's also about what it means to grow up here, leave to pursue opportunity and remain connected to home. Thomas says West Virginia's landscapes, country music and outdoor traditions continue to influence his perspective and his work. At the same time, he's candid about the challenges young people can face when pursuing careers in creative industries. Read more: https://therealwv.com/2026/09/03/from-charleston-to-the-charts-stephen-thomas-reflects-on-success-and-his-west-virginia-roots/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

  5. Sep 14

    Camden Park & The Trolley Parks

    Amusement parks started in Europe, evolving from pleasure gardens and fairs, but in the United States, they were created as waterside attractions or by local trolley companies to encourage more ridership on weekends. Created around the turn of the 20th century and called "trolley parks," there were hundreds of them throughout the country and West Virginia was no exception. With seven trolley parks and one waterside park, West Virginia had a collective total of eight amusement parks during the golden age of that great American institution's development, and from among them, Camden Park still thrives, bearing witness to the magic of that era. Amusement parks started in Europe, evolving from pleasure gardens and fairs, but in the United States, they were created as waterside attractions or by local trolley companies to encourage more ridership on weekends. Created around the turn of the 20th century and called "trolley parks," there were hundreds of them throughout the country and West Virginia was no exception. With seven trolley parks and one waterside park, West Virginia had a collective total of eight amusement parks during the golden age of that great American institution's development, and from among them, Camden Park still thrives, bearing witness to the magic of that era.

  6. Sep 13

    daily304 – Episode 09.13.2026

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From WVDEP – Help keep Almost Heaven beautiful A cleaner West Virginia starts with people willing to pitch in. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is accepting registrations for the annual Adopt-A-Highway Fall Statewide Cleanup, set for Saturday, Sept. 26. Individuals, families, organizations and other groups can volunteer to pick up litter along most state-maintained roads. WVDEP provides the garbage bags, work gloves and safety vests and takes care of disposing of the collected trash. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and even groups planning a one-time cleanup are encouraged to participate. Last year, Adopt-A-Highway participants contributed more than 52,000 hours of work and removed more than 251,000 pounds of litter from West Virginia roads. Want to help? Groups need to register by Sept. 17. Learn more: https://dep.wv.gov/news/Pages/2026-Fall-Adopt-A-Highway-Cleanup.aspx #2 – From WV GAZETTE-MAIL – Fall festival season is here The Charleston Gazette-Mail is highlighting fall festivals where visitors can experience Appalachian tradition, art and more across the Mountain State. Fall festivals are a chance to get out and experience West Virginia communities while celebrating the music, craftsmanship, food, art and traditions passed from one generation to the next. Take in the sights and sounds of events like the Mothman Festival, FestivFALL and more. Make a day trip out of it and enjoy a West Virginia tradition that's even better when the mountains start changing colors. Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/arts_and_entertainment/in-the-know-experience-appalachian-tradition-art-more-at-these-fall-festivals/article_b31a18f9-e5c4-47c3-aeea-a3c2eeec941e.html #3 – From WV PRESS – 38,000 acres of West Virginia forest protected forever The West Virginia Land Trust has completed what it calls the largest corporate land conservation project in state history, protecting 38,000 acres of forest across Monroe, Summers and Fayette counties, with portions extending into Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. The land is owned by Aurora Sustainable Lands, which donated the easements. Aurora can continue sustainable forestry on the property under Forest Stewardship Council standards, but the protected land cannot be converted to real estate development, agriculture or other uses. The protected properties include more than 81 miles of streams in the Greenbrier, Gauley and New River watersheds, high-elevation forest around Summers County's 3,921-foot Keeney Knob and land bordering New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The project also protects wildlife habitat and drinking water sources while supporting working forests. And it could eventually create new opportunities for hiking, climbing, hunting and fishing, although plans for public access are still being developed. Read more: https://wvpress.org/breaking-news/land-trust-easement-protects-38000-acres-in-southern-west-virginia/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

  7. Sep 12

    daily304 – Episode 09.12.2026

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From THE MAIN THING – What happens when life forces you to slow down? Kate Reed shares the main thing she's learned in her lifetime: Slow down. Then life gave that wisdom a whole new meaning. Reed, an Elkins-based wellness entrepreneur, returns to The Main Thing podcast for a conversation with host Skip Lineberg about entrepreneurship, burnout, family, friendship and recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Since her first appearance, Reed left a 12-year career with Leadership West Virginia to focus full time on Wonder and Grow, the organization she founded with longtime friend Valerie Hart. Their work uses mindfulness and connection with nature to help people navigate stress and burnout. Then a snowboarding accident left Reed with a serious concussion. Reed took two weeks completely off, with minimal screen time and only gentle walks. Time outside became an important part of slowing down and giving herself room to recover. Now, her original wisdom has evolved. Slow down and soften. Sometimes wisdom isn't just something you know. It's something life asks you to practice. Read more: https://themainthingpodcast.com/ep-146-kate-reed-what-happens-when-were-forced-to-slow-down/ #2 – From WV PRESS – Show us your fall colors Got a favorite West Virginia fall view? Grab your camera. The West Virginia State Parks Foundation has launched its fall colors "Mountains Are Always Free" photo contest, inviting amateur and professional photographers to capture autumn across the state's parks, forests and rail trails. The category is fall color. Your photograph has to be taken at a West Virginia state park, state forest or rail trail, but what goes in the picture is up to you. The contest runs through Nov. 6. Read more: https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/west-virginia-state-parks-foundation-announces-the-fall-colors-mountains-are-always-free-photo-contest/ #3 – From WV NEWS – West Virginia leads the nation in business survival Starting a business takes courage. Keeping one going takes something more. And West Virginia businesses are proving they can do it. A recently released business longevity study found that 57.6% of West Virginia businesses launched in 2019 were still operating five years later, giving the Mountain State the highest five-year business survival rate in the nation. The national average? 51.6%. West Virginia even edged out second-place Connecticut at 57.5%. That's especially notable because the businesses studied had to navigate five years that included the COVID-19 pandemic and major economic disruptions. Secretary of State Kris Warner credits entrepreneurs themselves along with years of collaboration among business organizations, educators, economic developers, lenders, workforce leaders, communities and state agencies. He also points to an expanding ecosystem of coaching, mentoring, accelerators, access-to-capital programs and entrepreneurship education. Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/theet/opinion/columns/west-virginia-recognized-as-a-national-leader-in-small-business-development-and-entrepreneurship/article_17ddb2cf-5de7-448d-b663-23b5ee9a28e0.html Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

  8. Sep 10

    daily304 – Episode 09.10.2026

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From WEST VIRGINIAVILLE – Homer Hickam: More than a Rocket Boy Mention Homer Hickam, and chances are you think rockets. Coalwood. "Rocket Boys." And the movie it inspired, "October Sky." But Hickam would like to add another word to the list: Author. A WestVirginiaVille podcast and profile explores Hickam's life as a writer, a career that stretches far beyond the story that made him famous. Hickam has published 19 books, ranging from memoir and military history to science fiction, thrillers and romance. His first book, "Torpedo Junction," explored German U-boat attacks along America's Atlantic Coast during World War II. Then came "Rocket Boys." The story of Hickam and his fellow McDowell County teenagers building rockets in Coalwood became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, was translated into multiple languages and inspired October Sky. Hickam was also a NASA engineer, whose career included training the first Japanese astronauts sent to the European Space Agency's Spacelab and helping train the crew that repaired the Hubble Space Telescope. But through all of it, Hickam says writing is what he loves to do. Listen now: https://westvirginiaville.substack.com/p/homer-hickam-a-writer-from-the-hills?es_id=9c4f4a7d81 #2 – From METRO NEWS – Charleston's LIFT Center gets ready for what's next The LIFT Center, a new $20 million manufacturing facility, is scheduled for completion in November on the former Kanawha Manufacturing Company property. The 55,000-square-foot building sits on eight acres with both rail and truck access. Kanawha Manufacturing occupied the property for more than a century, providing jobs largely connected to the coal industry. The new chapter is focused on advanced manufacturing or energy. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito recently toured the project as the Charleston Area Alliance continues searching for the facility's first manufacturer. Alliance President and CEO Mara Boggs says several potential businesses have already visited the site. The building itself is designed as a shell, allowing its eventual tenant to configure the space around its manufacturing needs. Construction has already supported about 50 jobs. Read more: https://wvmetronews.com/2026/08/31/charleston-lift-project-looks-for-lift-with-first-manufacturer-capito-tours-site/ #3 – From WV TECH PARK – Need a wet lab? West Virginia has room What exactly is a wet lab? A wet lab is designed for hands-on work involving chemicals, liquids, biological materials and other physical substances. That means it requires specialized infrastructure and safety systems you won't find in ordinary commercial space. And the West Virginia Regional Technology Park has some ready to go. Building 740 in South Charleston offers 132,000 square feet of flexible space, including approximately 25,000 square feet of available wet laboratory space, plus nearby offices for laboratory and administrative teams. That's important for a growing science or technology company. Building specialized laboratory space from scratch takes time and capital. Moving into existing wet-lab space can help a company get its operation running faster and put more of its investment toward the actual research and business. Read more: https://www.wvtechpark.com/post/what-is-a-wet-lab-a-guide-to-wet-laboratory-space Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

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About

Your window into wonderful West Virginia. Sharing news and opportunities from Almost Heaven. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram @daily304

Information

  • Channel
    WVgov
  • Creator
    West Virginia Department of Commerce
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    daily304's podcast

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