Feb 9 Energy & Environment Living With Black Lung: Coal Miners Caught In A Surging Epidemic The central Appalachian coalfields are in the middle of an unprecedented epidemic of severe black lung disease. In a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association federal researchers released the results of a study conducted at just three black lung clinics. The study confirmed 416 cases of the most severe form of […] By Benny Becker Feb 9 Energy & Environment Living With Black Lung: Coal Miners Caught In A Surging Epidemic Benny Becker
Dec 19 Energy & Environment Mine Health Expert Concerned About Review Of Coal Dust Rule The Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget has announced a review of an Obama-era rule that protects coal miners from exposure to the dust that causes black lung disease. That has some health and safety advocates concerned. The review comes amid a tide of regulatory rollbacks by the Trump administration and at a time […] By Benny Becker Dec 19 Energy & Environment Mine Health Expert Concerned About Review Of Coal Dust Rule Benny Becker
Jun 30 Energy & Environment Committee Hears More About Deadly Black Lung Resurgence While President Trump is wrapping up a week of energy talks in Washington highlighting the benefits of coal, health and industry experts met in Morgantown, West Virginia, to discuss the resurgence of black lung disease among miners. Health researchers have called the recent rates of dust-induced lung disease in coal miners historically unparalleled. Congress has […] By Glynis Board Jun 30 Energy & Environment Committee Hears More About Deadly Black Lung Resurgence Glynis Board
May 12 Economy Mending Mining Country: Three Ways Trump Could Help Miners And Coal Communities At a March ceremony to sign an executive order reversing Obama-era environmental regulations, coal miners were arranged on stage around President Donald Trump as he took up his pen. “You know what it says, right?” Trump asked the miners. “You’re going back to work.” From his campaign rallies to White House events, President Donald Trump […] By Benny Becker , Glynis Board , , Jeff Young and Becca Schimmel May 12 Economy Mending Mining Country: Three Ways Trump Could Help Miners And Coal Communities Benny Becker, Glynis Board, , Jeff Young and Becca Schimmel
Apr 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Update: Federal Researchers Seek Allies In Appalachia Federal health researchers are visiting health clinics and medical schools in the Appalachian coalfields to recruit allies to fight a resurgence of black lung disease. The worst form of the disease may affect as many as 5 percent of experienced working miners in the region, and the researchers fear that rate could be even higher […] By Benny Becker Apr 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Update: Federal Researchers Seek Allies In Appalachia Benny Becker
Apr 4 Impact NPR, ReSource Honored For Black Lung Investigation Investigative Reporters and Editors has honored NPR’s Howard Berkes and the Ohio Valley ReSource for reporting on the resurgence of black lung cases in Appalachia. ReSource reporter Benny Becker worked with Berkes to gather data and interviews for an NPR investigation that documented far more cases of complicated black lung – the worst stage of the […] By Jeff Young Apr 4 Impact NPR, ReSource Honored For Black Lung Investigation Jeff Young
Mar 30 Health Lawmakers Ask Trump For More Black Lung Funding A bipartisan group of legislators has asked President Donald Trump to make more money available for black lung health clinics as they face an increase in cases of the disease among coal miners. More than 20 clinics would benefit from the $3.3 million increase lawmakers are requesting. The clinics provide miners with health screenings, medical […] By Becca Schimmel Mar 30 Health Lawmakers Ask Trump For More Black Lung Funding Becca Schimmel
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 21 Resource Shift How To Help Those “Fighting For Breath” Listening to the Branham family describe how they’ve been affected by Mackie’s black lung is heart-wrenching. Our profile of the Branhams and the NPR investigation of black lung cases have gotten a lot attention, and in many cases I’ve seen the stories shared on social media with a warning that they’re likely to make you […] By Benny Becker Dec 21 Resource Shift How To Help Those “Fighting For Breath” Benny Becker
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