Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
…and now for the rest of the stories…on today’s daily304.com!
#1 – From GAZETTE-MAIL – Marshall University’s flight school announces partnership with electric aircraft developer
The era of electric aviation arrived in Charleston with the landing of BETA Technologies’ Alia CX300 at West Virginia International Yeager Airport recently. The battery-powered, single-engine aircraft landed near Marshall University’s Bill Noe Flight School, where it taxied quietly to a newly installed $327,500 charging station.
Flight operations chief Chris Caputo said this specific aircraft is the company’s first serial model, which has logged 750 flight hours and traveled coast-to-coast since its debut in late 2024.
The installation establishes Yeager Airport as part of a growing national network of over 65 airport charging stations capable of recharging the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries in roughly 35 minutes. BETA Technologies currently operates five Alia CX300 models to transport cargo and medical supplies, leveraging the aircraft’s 1,250-pound payload capacity and cruising speeds up to 155 mph. Additionally, the company is expanding its fleet and developing the Alia A250, a specialized vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) variant designed for shorter missions in locations without traditional runways.
#2 – From daily304 – Mountain State Music showcases local talent
There are so many talented musicians in West Virginia, and the daily304 wants to shine a spotlight on each and every one of them. Every month, we introduce you to creative West Virginia artists and their original songs. It’s a concert from your couch, and you don’t even have to pay a cover charge. Sit back, relax and enjoy live music from the Folklore Stage.
Listen now:
https://daily304.wv.gov/programs/mountain-state-music/
#3 – From WV EDA – Learn how your business can become the WVEDA’s latest success story
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority supports state business growth and economic welfare through financial assistance, including loans and leases, to promote and keep commercial and industrial development in Almost Heaven.
Check out some of the WVEDA’s latest success stories, from a mushroom farm to a woodworking mill, and learn how your business can become the next success story in #YesWV.
Read more:
https://eda.wv.gov/success-stories/
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.