May 22 Energy & Environment Facing Second Lawsuit From Federal Mine Regulators, Justice Coal Companies File Suit Of Their Own In apparent anticipation of a federal lawsuit seeking recovery of overdue penalties, coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice have filed a lawsuit of their own against federal surface mining regulators. The suit, first reported by WV MetroNews, is an apparent preemptive strike against the federal government, which is preparing […] By Brittany Patterson May 22 Energy & Environment Facing Second Lawsuit From Federal Mine Regulators, Justice Coal Companies File Suit Of Their Own Brittany Patterson
May 17 Agriculture A Growing Recovery: Food Service And Farming Jobs Provide A Path Out Of Addiction This is the first story in an occasional series exploring the links between addiction recovery and a recovering economy. It’s lunch hour, and Cafe Appalachia is bustling. Located in South Charleston, West Virginia, the former church turned restaurant has a funky, yet calming vibe. Twinkle lights and mismatched dining room sets dot the space. For […] By Brittany Patterson and Liam Niemeyer May 17 Agriculture A Growing Recovery: Food Service And Farming Jobs Provide A Path Out Of Addiction Brittany Patterson and Liam Niemeyer
May 16 Energy & Environment Capito Among Senators Seeking Faster EPA Action On PFAS Chemical Pollution A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators including West Virginia Republican Shelley Moore Capito this week introduced two bills aimed at further regulating a group of toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The chemicals include PFOA, or C-8, used to make nonstick products and other similar chemicals used in flame retardants. They have been detected in at […] By Brittany Patterson May 16 Energy & Environment Capito Among Senators Seeking Faster EPA Action On PFAS Chemical Pollution Brittany Patterson
May 15 Energy & Environment As Ohio Valley Ponders Plastics Growth, Report Warns Of Threat to Climate As a new plastics industry emerges in the Ohio Valley, a report by environmental groups warns that the expansion of plastics threatens the world’s ability to keep climate change at bay. The report released Wednesday by the Center for International Environmental Law, Environmental Integrity Project, FracTracker Alliance, and others used publicly available emissions data and […] By Brittany Patterson May 15 Energy & Environment As Ohio Valley Ponders Plastics Growth, Report Warns Of Threat to Climate Brittany Patterson
May 7 Energy & Environment Justice Dept. Seeks $4.7M In Overdue Mine Safety Fines From WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against 23 coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, seeking more than $4.7 million in unpaid fines and fees for mine safety and health violations. The delinquent fines were brought to light by investigations by NPR and the Ohio Valley […] By Brittany Patterson May 7 Energy & Environment Justice Dept. Seeks $4.7M In Overdue Mine Safety Fines From WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies Brittany Patterson
Apr 5 Energy & Environment Mine Safety Debt For WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies Grows to $4M An Ohio Valley ReSource analysis of federal mine safety data shows that the companies belonging to the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice owe $4.3 million in delinquent debt for mine safety violations. That is far more than the companies owed when Justice ran for governor in 2016, when he pledged to make good […] By Alexandra Kanik and Brittany Patterson Apr 5 Energy & Environment Mine Safety Debt For WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies Grows to $4M Alexandra Kanik and Brittany Patterson
Mar 29 Economy Rare Conservation Win In Congress Helps Ohio Valley Parks And Monuments The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge’s namesake is apparent upon stepping outside its visitors center in Williamstown, West Virginia. Gazing past bird feeders and the forested bank of the Ohio River, a skinny island looms large. “So Buckley Island is right across the water from us,” says Michael Schramm, visitor services manager at the […] By Brittany Patterson Mar 29 Economy Rare Conservation Win In Congress Helps Ohio Valley Parks And Monuments Brittany Patterson
Mar 4 Energy & Environment Study Finds Coal Ash Contamination Widespread In Ohio Valley More than 90 percent of the nation’s regulated coal ash repositories are leaking unsafe levels of toxic chemicals into nearby groundwater, including ash sites at more than 30 coal-fired power plants in the Ohio Valley. A new analysis released Monday by the Environmental Integrity Project and other advocacy groups looked at federally-mandated groundwater data from […] By Brittany Patterson Mar 4 Energy & Environment Study Finds Coal Ash Contamination Widespread In Ohio Valley Brittany Patterson
Feb 20 Energy & Environment West Virginia Coal Miners Rally For Black Lung Legislation Miners and advocates rallied Wednesday at the West Virginia Capitol in support of a series of bills aimed at preventing and treating severe black lung disease. Five bills introduced by lawmakers would make it easier to make qualify for state benefits and provide benefits to miners who have early-stage black lung. The bills come at […] By Brittany Patterson Feb 20 Energy & Environment West Virginia Coal Miners Rally For Black Lung Legislation Brittany Patterson
Feb 14 Energy & Environment EPA To Limit PFAS Chemical Contaminants Found In Some Ohio Valley Water Systems The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it will move forward with a series of actions to regulate toxic fluorinated chemicals, including proposing drinking water limits by the end of this year. But environment and public health advocates say that timeline is unacceptably slow given the health risks and extent of contamination. In its long-awaited […] By Brittany Patterson Feb 14 Energy & Environment EPA To Limit PFAS Chemical Contaminants Found In Some Ohio Valley Water Systems Brittany Patterson