Sep 21 Democracy & Civic Life Demonstrators Caravan Around McConnell Offices, Demanding Stimulus Relief Caravans of protesters drove Monday to the Washington home and Kentucky offices of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The protesters, who were affiliated with the Poor People’s Campaign, say the Kentucky senator is blocking legislation that could help Americans through the coronavirus crisis. Protests were held in McConnell’s offices in London, Lexington, Fort Wright, Louisville, […] By Sydney Boles Sep 21 Democracy & Civic Life Demonstrators Caravan Around McConnell Offices, Demanding Stimulus Relief Sydney Boles
Aug 19 Democracy & Civic Life Report On Russian Interference In Elections Raises Questions About KY Project A new report from the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee about Russian interference in U.S. elections raises new questions about a struggling eastern Kentucky development project with ties to both Senator Mitch McConnell and the Russian government. The 966-page document, the result of a years-long bipartisan investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee, is the most explicit […] By Sydney Boles Aug 19 Democracy & Civic Life Report On Russian Interference In Elections Raises Questions About KY Project Sydney Boles
Aug 18 Democracy & Civic Life McConnell Talks Stimulus, Postal Service Funding On KY Stop Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he’s open to calling the Senate back to Washington if Democrats are willing to budge on another round of coronavirus stimulus spending. Speaking in Hazard, the Kentucky Republican said all parties agree an additional stimulus package is needed; his disagreement with the Democratic leadership is on how much […] By Sydney Boles Aug 18 Democracy & Civic Life McConnell Talks Stimulus, Postal Service Funding On KY Stop Sydney Boles
May 23 Economy Economists Grapple With Pandemic’s Effects As Ohio Valley Officials Brace For A Fiscal Blow Kentucky’s state budget officials told lawmakers Friday that general fund receipts may decline by 495 million dollars next fiscal year. It’s just the latest example of the unprecedented financial hardships ahead for the Ohio Valley’s state and local governments due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 38 million Americans have applied for unemployment insurance in […] By Sydney Boles May 23 Economy Economists Grapple With Pandemic’s Effects As Ohio Valley Officials Brace For A Fiscal Blow Sydney Boles
Dec 19 Economy After Nearly A Decade Of Anxiety Over Pensions, Coal Miners See Light At The End Of The Tunnel Union coal miners and retirees breathed a collective sigh of relief after the U.S. Senate passed a spending bill that includes support for miners’ pensions, which had been at risk due to the coal industry’s downturn. The bill, which funds the federal government for the coming year, also includes The Bipartisan American Miners Act which […] By Becca Schimmel Dec 19 Economy After Nearly A Decade Of Anxiety Over Pensions, Coal Miners See Light At The End Of The Tunnel Becca Schimmel
Dec 11 Economy Ohio Valley Lawmaker Plans To Halt Senate Action Over Coal Miners’ Benefits West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin pledged Wednesday to block all legislation until pensions and health benefits are secured for coal miners. Manchin said no legislation will pass the Senate until he is assured that coal miners’ benefits will be in the spending bill used to fund the federal government. The Bipartisan American Miners Act […] By Becca Schimmel Dec 11 Economy Ohio Valley Lawmaker Plans To Halt Senate Action Over Coal Miners’ Benefits Becca Schimmel
Nov 1 Economy Murray Energy’s Bankruptcy Could Bring Collapse Of Coal Miners’ Pensions The recent bankruptcy of Ohio Valley coal giant Murray Energy has renewed fears about the already shaky financial foundations of the pension plan that tens of thousands of miners and their families depend upon. The seismic collapse of yet another coal employer has lawmakers from the region renewing their push to fix the United Mine […] By Becca Schimmel Nov 1 Economy Murray Energy’s Bankruptcy Could Bring Collapse Of Coal Miners’ Pensions Becca Schimmel
Oct 28 Energy & Environment Disastrous Disconnect: Coal, Climate And Catastrophe In Kentucky This story is part of a series about the insufficient protections for vulnerable people as natural disasters worsen in a warming climate. The Center for Public Integrity and four partners – the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, High Country News, Ohio Valley ReSource and StateImpact Oklahoma – are contributing stories. REGINA, Ky. — Todd Bentley stepped onto his […] By Rachel Leven and Zach Goldstein Oct 28 Energy & Environment Disastrous Disconnect: Coal, Climate And Catastrophe In Kentucky Rachel Leven and Zach Goldstein
Jul 19 Energy & Environment Coal Miners To Hit Capitol Hill For Black Lung Funding Dozens of Appalachian coal miners plan to visit Capitol Hill Tuesday to ask lawmakers to bolster funding for the black lung disability trust fund, which miners depend upon when no responsible company can be identified to pay for needed health care. The fund is already billions of dollars in debt, and that will likely grow […] By Sydney Boles Jul 19 Energy & Environment Coal Miners To Hit Capitol Hill For Black Lung Funding Sydney Boles
Jul 18 Economy Living Wage: Ohio Valley Workers, Employers React As House Votes For $15 Minimum Wage The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, more than double the current $7.25 rate, which has not changed in a decade. The bill is unlikely to clear the Republican-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he will not take it […] By Becca Schimmel Jul 18 Economy Living Wage: Ohio Valley Workers, Employers React As House Votes For $15 Minimum Wage Becca Schimmel