Dec 14 Energy & Environment Black Lung, Red Ink: Residents Press McConnell As Deadline Looms For Black Lung Fund On a cool but clear November day about a dozen residents from eastern Kentucky’s coal mining region crowded into the lobby of an office building in the small town of London, Kentucky. That’s where Kentucky’s powerful senior senator, Mitch McConnell, has his local field office. McConnell’s staff let the local advocates for black lung treatment […] By Becca Schimmel and Sydney Boles Dec 14 Energy & Environment Black Lung, Red Ink: Residents Press McConnell As Deadline Looms For Black Lung Fund Becca Schimmel and Sydney Boles
Dec 14 Uncategorized Ohio Valley’s Black Lung Trust Fund Claims By Alexandra Kanik Dec 14 Uncategorized Ohio Valley’s Black Lung Trust Fund Claims Alexandra Kanik
Oct 23 Health McConnell Hints At Action To Preserve Tax Supporting Black Lung Fund Amid a surge in cases of black lung disease, concerns are rising about the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which provides federal benefits to some coal miners with the disease. A tax that supports the fund would be cut by half at the end of the year unless Congress acts. Now Senate Majority Leader Mitch […] By Sydney Boles Oct 23 Health McConnell Hints At Action To Preserve Tax Supporting Black Lung Fund Sydney Boles
Sep 25 Economy Miners Urge Congressional Action On Pensions, Black Lung Fund Retired coal miners and coal community activists are on Capitol Hill this week urging action on two important issues for miners: pensions and black lung benefits. Advocates say funds supporting both pensions for retired miners and the federal benefits for those sickened by black lung disease are at risk if Congress does not act. […] By Becca Schimmel Sep 25 Economy Miners Urge Congressional Action On Pensions, Black Lung Fund Becca Schimmel
Aug 10 Energy & Environment Federal Dust Fraud Charges Highlight Black Lung Threat For Miners When former coal mine employees in western Kentucky faced arraignment Wednesday on federal charges that they conspired to falsify the required monitoring of coal dust, the hearing brought renewed attention to the region’s surge in black lung disease. The case highlights the many challenges miners face in the workplace. And health officials in black lung […] By Becca Schimmel Aug 10 Energy & Environment Federal Dust Fraud Charges Highlight Black Lung Threat For Miners Becca Schimmel
Jul 19 Energy & Environment Region’s Black Lung Rates Highest In 25 Years A new study by federal health officials finds the recent surge in cases of black lung disease is especially concentrated among coal miners in central Appalachia. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health say the rate of black lung disease among experienced miners in central Appalachia is the highest they have seen […] By Jeff Young Jul 19 Energy & Environment Region’s Black Lung Rates Highest In 25 Years Jeff Young
Jul 11 Energy & Environment Federal Prosecutor Charges Coal Company With Faking Dust Samples Amid Black Lung Surge Western Kentucky District U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman didn’t hide his emotion when announcing federal charges against a coal company for faking coal dust samples. “This is one of those that just made me angry, it just made me angry to see the impact on these miners,” Coleman said. Coleman unsealed indictments Wednesday against eight employees […] By Jeff Young and Becca Schimmel Jul 11 Energy & Environment Federal Prosecutor Charges Coal Company With Faking Dust Samples Amid Black Lung Surge Jeff Young and Becca Schimmel
Jun 28 Energy & Environment National Academy Report Urges Stronger Coal Dust Monitoring Amid Black Lung Surge A new report from the National Academy of Sciences says the coal mining industry needs a “fundamental shift” in the way it controls exposure to coal and rock dust in order to prevent lung disease among miners. Despite improvements such as an Obama-era rule to strengthen monitoring and control of dust in mines, the experts […] By Jeff Young Jun 28 Energy & Environment National Academy Report Urges Stronger Coal Dust Monitoring Amid Black Lung Surge Jeff Young
Jun 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Benefits Fund in Deepening Debt as Epidemic Surges A new study from the Government Accountability Office finds that the federal fund supporting coal miners with black lung disease could be in financial trouble without Congressional action. As NPR has reported, the GAO found that the fund’s debt could rise dramatically at the same time that black lung disease is surging. Most federal benefits […] By Benny Becker Jun 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Benefits Fund in Deepening Debt as Epidemic Surges Benny Becker
May 16 Energy & Environment Lung Transplants Rise Amid Region’s Black Lung Epidemic The Appalachian coalfields are in the midst of an epidemic of severe black lung disease. The debilitating and even deadly disease has recently begun to affect miners as young as 30. Dust from coal mines has scarred these miners’ lungs, so little of the air they breathe gets absorbed. In central Appalachia, researchers say, one […] By Benny Becker May 16 Energy & Environment Lung Transplants Rise Amid Region’s Black Lung Epidemic Benny Becker