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.