Posts tagged 'west virginia'
Coal company pays record settlement
Posted: Dec. 7, 2011 | Tags: mine, west virginia
The owner of the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia, where 29 men died in an explosion last year, has agreed to pay $209 million in civil and criminal penalties. This is the largest settlement in a criminal investigation of a mine disaster in U.S. history, which you can read about in the Charleston, W.Va., Gazette. Last year, we reported on the poor safety record of Massey Energy, which Alpha Natural Resources bought out in June.
Workshop's wind stories kicking up political dust
Posted: Sept. 27, 2010 | Tags: economy, stimulus, west virginia, wind energy
The race for West Virginia's Third Congressional District is heating up, and my Blown Away stories have suddenly resurfaced in the latest round of back-and-forth between the campaigns.
Politico reported today that Republican nominee Spike Maynard has released a new political ad targeting the long-time incumbent, Democrat Rep. Nick Rahall on the issue of stimulus money for renewable energy creating jobs in China. The ad, which you can see below, claims that, "as part of the Obama-Pelosi team, Rahall voted for billions in tax breaks for foreign companies creating Chinese jobs. Rahall's vote helped foreign companies create jobs ...
Another coal disaster and journalism
Posted: April 10, 2010 | Tags: mine, west virginia
My home state of West Virginia has been back in the news this week, and not in a good way. At least 25 coal miners died Monday in what appears to be a horrendous explosion in a Raleigh County mine. Rescue efforts are continuing for four men still missing and the outlook is not good. UPDATE: On Friday night, the bodies of the four missing miners were found.
The first big story of my career was the 1968 disaster at the Consol No. 9 mine in Farmington, W.Va. A devastating explosion and fire claimed the lives of 78 miners ...
