Jun 25 Economy New Economic Data Show Appalachia’s Struggles Amid Coal’s Decline An annual report from the Appalachian Regional Commission shows that while Appalachia is seeing some economic improvement, the heart of the region and its coal-producing communities are still struggling. Several counties in the Ohio Valley are moving in a negative direction in this year’s report. The ARC report evaluates the Appalachian region using county-level data […] By Becca Schimmel Jun 25 Economy New Economic Data Show Appalachia’s Struggles Amid Coal’s Decline Becca Schimmel
Jun 19 Energy & Environment Trump Administration Replaces Obama-Era Climate Change Rule On Power Plants The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday released its long-awaited final replacement for the Obama administration’s signature climate change regulation, which sought to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by one-third by 2025. The Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy rule, or ACE, tasks states with developing plans that rely on the use of efficiency technologies […] By Brittany Patterson Jun 19 Energy & Environment Trump Administration Replaces Obama-Era Climate Change Rule On Power Plants Brittany Patterson
Jun 11 Energy & Environment Coal Companies Belonging To WV Gov. Justice’s Family Agree To Pay Overdue Taxes In KY Coal companies controlled by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice have agreed to a settlement covering millions of dollars in overdue property taxes in four eastern Kentucky counties: Harlan, Knott, Magoffin, and Pike. Checks totaling $1.2 million from Justice entities began rolling in last week, county officials said. According to state officials, the […] By Brittany Patterson Jun 11 Energy & Environment Coal Companies Belonging To WV Gov. Justice’s Family Agree To Pay Overdue Taxes In KY Brittany Patterson
Jun 7 Energy & Environment As Calls For Action On Black Lung Disease Grow, Regulators Show Little Indication Of Change Harold Sturgill was disabled by black lung disease when he was 58 years old. Now he advocates for disabled miners. “When it comes to the mining companies, and it comes to the worker, it’s still all about production,” Sturgill said. “They could care less about me, how much dust I suck in, or how long […] By Sydney Boles Jun 7 Energy & Environment As Calls For Action On Black Lung Disease Grow, Regulators Show Little Indication Of Change Sydney Boles
May 31 Economy Powering Down: Ohio Community Reckons With Coal Plant Closure Brick buildings line the wide sidewalks of Main Street in downtown Coshocton, Ohio. On a recent spring day the dogwood trees are blooming. Bright red and white tulips dot the grassy public square, home to the local courthouse and a gazebo. There are barber shops, an optometrist, a florist, a railroad-themed steakhouse is open for […] By Brittany Patterson May 31 Economy Powering Down: Ohio Community Reckons With Coal Plant Closure Brittany Patterson
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 13 Impact Join The ReSource For “Coal’s Deadly Dust” Film Screening And Meet NPR’s Howard Berkes Join Louisville Public Media, Appalshop, and the Ohio Valley ReSource for free screenings and panel discussions of the FRONTLINE/NPR film “Coal’s Deadly Dust,” an investigation of the rise of severe black lung disease among coal miners, and the failure of regulators and the mining industry to respond. These special events allow you to hear from […] By Jeff Young May 13 Impact Join The ReSource For “Coal’s Deadly Dust” Film Screening And Meet NPR’s Howard Berkes Jeff Young
May 8 Economy Retired Miners Make One More Push For Pension Protection On Capitol Hill Retired coal miners joined lawmakers from the Ohio Valley on Capitol Hill Wednesday for another attempt to protect miners’ pensions. Pensions are at risk because of a downturn in the coal market, the lingering effects of the 2008 recession, and coal company bankruptcies which have all reduced the amounts companies paid into a shared, or […] By Becca Schimmel May 8 Economy Retired Miners Make One More Push For Pension Protection On Capitol Hill Becca Schimmel
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