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A Conversation on Gun Violence and Building Stronger Communities

West Virginia Morning
West Virginia Public Broadcasting

On this West Virginia Morning, we speak with a police officer turned sociologist. He offers a researcher’s perspective on gun violence. We also hear a report from The Allegheny Front on fracking concerns in Ohio, and we hear this week’s Mountain Stage Song of the Week.

Our weekend show Inside Appalachia considers some of the struggles communities dealing with oil and gas face. While the growth in horizontal gas drilling – fracking – has brought new energy sources and new economic development in some communities, it also brings new health concerns. In the Utica Shale region, some Ohio residents have taken it upon themselves to start a fracking health registry. The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant reports.

That story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Journalism and the Sear-Swetland Family Foundation and is part of The Allegheny Front's series, Who’s Listening, about fracking in Ohio. You can hear that and more this weekend on Inside Appalachia, Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and again Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

In the wake of mass shootings, more public health officials are calling for gun violence to be treated as a public health concern. Kara Lofton spoke with West Virginia University sociology professor and former police officer James Nolan about how taking guns away or incarcerating more people might do little to actually make people safer. He argues, reducing violence may be as simple as building stronger, more engaged communities. Here’s part of that conversation.

Michael and Tanya Trotter are the driving voices behind The War And Treaty. With an energetic sound that blends classic roots, gospel and R&B with country and soul, the duo is a treat to experience live.

Our Song of the Week comes from the band's first appearance on Mountain Stage: their soulful, gospel-influenced song "It's Not Over Yet."

To hear this and more, tune in every Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content. You can keep up with the latest West Virginia news throughout the day on our website, wvpublic.org.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from CAMC and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Caitlin Tan, Jessica Lilly, Kara Lofton, Liz McCormick, Dave Mistich, Brittany Patterson, Eric Douglas, Cory Knollinger, Emily Allen, and Roxy Todd.

Our news director is Jesse Wright. Our producer is Glynis Board.