Dec 14 Energy & Environment Blackjewel Coal Alleges ‘Intentional, Willful’ Self-Dealing By Former CEO Allegations of financial misconduct by Blackjewel’s former CEO have surrounded the company’s bankruptcy case since it began last July. But a December 10 court filing lays out specific allegations against ousted CEO Jeff Hoops: webs of shell companies and secret royalty schemes that allegedly enriched Hoops at the expense of coal miners, the environment, and […] By Sydney Boles Dec 14 Energy & Environment Blackjewel Coal Alleges ‘Intentional, Willful’ Self-Dealing By Former CEO Sydney Boles
Dec 2 Energy & Environment Blackjewel Coal Moves To Liquidate, Leaving Millions Unpaid To Workers And Regulators The convoluted bankruptcy of coal company Blackjewel has hit another turn of events as the company’s former CEO moved to liquidate the company. A federal judge is considering a motion submitted last week to convert the bankruptcy from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7. That would mean that instead of exiting bankruptcy as a new company […] By Sydney Boles Dec 2 Energy & Environment Blackjewel Coal Moves To Liquidate, Leaving Millions Unpaid To Workers And Regulators Sydney Boles
Nov 13 Energy & Environment What Biden’s Plan For “Building Back Better” Could Mean For The Ohio Valley David Meinschein’s teachers, staff and students have sacrificed a lot this year amid the staggering challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. He opens the door heading inside Ballad Memorial High School’s basketball gymnasium — known locally as the “Green Palace” for its school colors. The school’s emptiness is another reminder of COVID-19’s impact. But as assistant […] By Liam Niemeyer Nov 13 Energy & Environment What Biden’s Plan For “Building Back Better” Could Mean For The Ohio Valley Liam Niemeyer
Nov 5 Energy & Environment Ex-Massey Energy CEO Draws Thousands of Votes For President In Closely Contested States Former coal executive Don Blankenship, who went to prison for his role in the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in West Virginia, drew about 55,000 votes Tuesday as a third-party candidate for president, including thousands of votes in closely contested states. While not a significant amount in comparison to the more than 140 million Americans […] By Brittany Patterson Nov 5 Energy & Environment Ex-Massey Energy CEO Draws Thousands of Votes For President In Closely Contested States Brittany Patterson
Nov 3 Energy & Environment Coal Education Group Pivots to Entrepreneurship An eastern Kentucky nonprofit that has long promoted coal to school kids is now promoting innovation and entrepreneurship instead. Pikeville-based CEDAR Inc. was founded in 1993 with the purpose of “improving the image of the Coal Industry.” It did this through programs like the annual Coal Fair and a coal education curriculum provided to qualifying […] By Sydney Boles Nov 3 Energy & Environment Coal Education Group Pivots to Entrepreneurship Sydney Boles
Oct 28 Energy & Environment Advocates Say Citizen Mining Complaint Process Weakened By Rule Change Environmental and community advocates in Appalachian coal communities are concerned about a new federal rule, finalized this week, that is changing the process that allows citizens to file complaints about polluting coal mining operations. The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement said in a Tuesday press release that the changes […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 28 Energy & Environment Advocates Say Citizen Mining Complaint Process Weakened By Rule Change Brittany Patterson
Oct 25 Energy & Environment Ohio Valley Coal Mine Executive Bob Murray Dead at 80 Robert E. Murray, the founder and former president and CEO of Murray Energy Corp., formerly the largest privately-held underground coal company in the country, has died. He was 80 years old. Murray’s death was reported Sunday evening by television stations WTOV9 in Steubenville, Ohio, and WOWK in Huntington, West Virginia. According to the news outlets, […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 25 Energy & Environment Ohio Valley Coal Mine Executive Bob Murray Dead at 80 Brittany Patterson
Oct 23 Energy & Environment From Appalachia To Wyoming: Youth From Coal Country Discuss The Future After Coal On a recent Saturday, over Zoom, a group of seven high schoolers from Wyoming, eastern Kentucky and West Virginia gazed at an image of a gleaming, pale blue, coal-fired power plant. “OK, so this one really interested us,” said Sarah Belcher, a senior from eastern Kentucky. “So we noticed your all’s coal facilities, they’re really […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 23 Energy & Environment From Appalachia To Wyoming: Youth From Coal Country Discuss The Future After Coal Brittany Patterson
Oct 19 Energy & Environment Bob Murray Announces Retirement From Coal Company He Founded After applying for black lung benefits, Robert Murray, founder and former president of the now-bankrupt coal company Murray Energy Corp., announced Monday he was leaving the business after more than 60 years in the industry. Murray Energy emerged from bankruptcy protection last month as American Consolidated Natural Resources (ACNR). The 80-year-old Murray was named chairman […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 19 Energy & Environment Bob Murray Announces Retirement From Coal Company He Founded Brittany Patterson