Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
#1 – From WV GAZETTE-MAIL – Mothman takes on a new role in West Virginia film
One of West Virginia’s most famous legends is returning to the screen. A new short film shot and produced in the Mountain State uses the story of Mothman as the backdrop for something deeper — an exploration of trauma and healing. The project adds another entry to West Virginia’s growing film industry while showing how one of the state’s most recognizable pieces of folklore can inspire new kinds of storytelling. The film is now available for audiences to experience.
#2 – From WV EXPLORER – Experience Appalachia at Heritage Farm
Museums…Traditional artisans…Native wildlife…and zip lines?
You’ll find them all at Heritage Farm Museum and Village near Huntington. The 150-acre destination is West Virginia’s only Smithsonian Institution affiliate and features seven museums, a recreated 19th-century Appalachian village, artisan demonstrations and hands-on opportunities to experience the region’s history. But Heritage Farm isn’t just about looking backward. Visitors can explore a 750-foot network of canopy bridges, tackle zip lines and aerial courses, or ride 10 downhill mountain bike trails. And there’s more coming. A new Snow Oasis is under construction with plans for ice skating, tubing, snow play, skiing and snowboarding as Heritage Farm works to become a year-round destination.
Read more:
https://wvexplorer.com/heritage-farm-museum-huntington-west-virginia/
#3 – From WV PRESS – More West Virginians are choosing medical school at home
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine has welcomed the largest number of West Virginia residents in the school’s history. Of the 210 students in WVSOM’s Class of 2030, 79 are West Virginians. School leaders credit intentional efforts to recruit more in-state students, including partnerships with West Virginia colleges, tuition waivers and programs that create clearer pathways into medical school. One of those efforts, the Pre-Osteopathic Medicine Program, partners with 12 West Virginia higher education institutions to provide eligible students a path toward early acceptance.
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.
