Dec 22 Health Lawmakers Seek Accurate Count Of Black Lung Cases Following an NPR investigation of a resurgence of cases of advanced black lung disease, some members of Congress have asked the relevant government agencies for a more accurate count of affected coal miners. “This shocking report requires a full accounting of the number of known cases of advanced black lung disease,” Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., […] By Jeff Young Dec 22 Health Lawmakers Seek Accurate Count Of Black Lung Cases Jeff Young
Dec 16 Energy & Environment Fighting For Breath: Black Lung’s Deadliest Form Increases At the age of 38, a coal miner named Mackie Branham Jr. was diagnosed with progressive massive fibrosis, a debilitating and terminal form of an illness that was supposed to be a disease of the past — black lung. But Branham is among many miners afflicted by a resurgence in the disease, and officials are […] By Benny Becker Dec 16 Energy & Environment Fighting For Breath: Black Lung’s Deadliest Form Increases Benny Becker
May 4 Energy & Environment Coal and COVID-19: Lung Impairment Makes Miners Especially Vulnerable To Coronavirus Underground coal miners start their shifts getting changed in closely packed changing rooms. They ride rail cars to their worksite, shoulder-to-shoulder, sometimes for more than an hour. And once they’re underground, ventilation designed to tamp down coal dust blows air through the mine. All that makes a coal mine the kind of place where the […] By Sydney Boles May 4 Energy & Environment Coal and COVID-19: Lung Impairment Makes Miners Especially Vulnerable To Coronavirus Sydney Boles
Mar 27 Economy ‘There’s Going To Be Something Better for Him’: Former Blackjewel Miners Reflect on Changes in Coal Country On a blistering August afternoon in Cumberland, Kentucky, David Pratt, Jr. stood in the middle of a two-lane highway, holding a sign that read “COAL MINERS AND TRUCKERS AGAINST CORPORATE AMERICA.” A few yards away, his father, David Pratt Sr., who is graying but still muscular, leaned back in a lawn chair perched precariously on […] By Sydney Boles Mar 27 Economy ‘There’s Going To Be Something Better for Him’: Former Blackjewel Miners Reflect on Changes in Coal Country Sydney Boles
Dec 6 Health Mountain Air: Youth Help Identify Causes Of Ohio Valley’s High Lung Disease Rates Isabella Back, 18, pulls her jacket tight around herself as she crosses the gravel driveway. “So we’re going about 10 feet from my house to my dad’s workshop,” she says, and pushes through a door in a big, red barn. The Kona, Kentucky, shop is crowded with cluttered work tables and hulking machines, and the […] By Sydney Boles Dec 6 Health Mountain Air: Youth Help Identify Causes Of Ohio Valley’s High Lung Disease Rates Sydney Boles
Aug 9 Economy “Bloody Harlan” Revisited: Blackjewel Miners Draw On Labor History While Facing Uncertain Future Curtis Cress sat in the gravel beside a railroad track in Harlan County, Kentucky. Tall and thin with a long, black beard, Cress is every bit a coal miner, or, he was until a month ago. “It’s part of my heritage, you know? My dad and papaws had always done it,” he said. “And I’m […] By Sydney Boles Aug 9 Economy “Bloody Harlan” Revisited: Blackjewel Miners Draw On Labor History While Facing Uncertain Future Sydney Boles
Nov 23 Energy & Environment It’s been decades since toxic dust rules for mines have improved. Lawmakers are taking notice. Ohio Valley ReSource · An important mine safety rule hasn’t been updated for decades. Lawmakers are taking notice. Vonda Robinson watches her husband struggle to breathe. She says he contracted the incurable black lung disease after working in coal mines with little to no safety protocols. She’s been to pulmonologist appointments where doctors showed her […] By Justin Hicks Nov 23 Energy & Environment It’s been decades since toxic dust rules updated Justin Hicks
Sep 29 Uncategorized Eastern Ky. man arrested, tased for trying to stop debris contractors from cutting trees Ohio Valley ReSource · Property owners say debris contractors cut their trees without permission. Nearly two months after catastrophic flooding in eastern Kentucky, Lois Rose stood in her yard in the town of Neon and recorded a debate on her cell phone with Letcher County Sheriff Deputy Seth Whitaker. In the background, workers in […] By Justin Hicks Sep 29 Uncategorized Eastern Ky. man arrested, tased for trying to stop debris contractors from cutting trees Justin Hicks
Sep 13 Energy & Environment As winter looms, some flooded eastern Kentuckians struggle to find housing Ohio Valley ReSource · As winter looms, some flooded eastern Kentuckians struggle to find housing Laverne Fields and her family are camping by the side of the road in Millstone, Kentucky. It’s been a month and a half since her trailer washed into the creek. “FEMA’s little bit slow on helping us,” Fields said. Her […] By Katie Myers Sep 13 Energy & Environment As winter looms, some flooded eastern Kentuckians struggle to find housing Katie Myers
Aug 18 Uncategorized Kentucky coal company faces federal charges for faking coal dust tests Ohio Valley ReSource · Kentucky coal company faces federal charges for faking coal dust tests Mines are required to periodically submit coal dust levels to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to monitor particles that can cause the incurable black lung disease. Inspection records show that in October 2020, government mine inspectors noticed that […] By Justin Hicks Aug 18 Uncategorized Kentucky coal company indicted for lying on safety records Justin Hicks