Upper Big Branch miner: ‘That place was a ticking time bomb’
by Ken Ward Jr. Gazette readers have heard from Stanley “Goose” Stewart before, in this story by my buddy Davin White, which was published just two days after the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion. Stewart, who narrowly escaped the April 5 disaster, had much more to say this morning when he testified at the House [...]
MSHA outlines hearing process in investigation of Upper Big Branch Mine explosion
ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today further defined its plans for a series of public hearings in the investigation of the April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va. The public hearings will commence after the initial witness interviews are completed. “MSHA [...]
News from Massey’s annual meeting in Richmond
by Ken Ward Jr. Here’s AP’s dispatch from today’s events at the Massey Energy Annual Meeting: RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A mixture of union representatives and anti-mining activists gathered outside a historic Richmond hotel Tuesday morning to protest against a common foe — Massey Energy Co. Hundreds of people sang songs, chanted and held signs [...]
Massey Gone Down, Chase Relents: Protests Rock Big Coal: Beyond Blankenship, Meet Dirty Coal’s Parcel o’ Rogues
By Jeff Biggers What a big week in the Big Coal Gone Wild chronicles UPDATE May 18th : After a long national campaign to end banking practices for mountaintop removal mining operations, Rainforest Action Network announced that JP Morgan Chase has made its first public announcement on halting lending to reckless mining operations in Appalachia. [...]
“If the economy produces jobs over the next eight months at the same pace as it did over the past four months, the nation will have created more jobs in 2010 alone than it did over the entire eight years of George W. Bush’s presidency.
by Ronald Brownstein Saturday, May 15, 2010 If the economy produces jobs over the next eight months at the same pace as it did over the past four months, the nation will have created more jobs in 2010 alone than it did over the entire eight years of George W. Bush’s presidency.That comparison comes with [...]
Sen. Byrd: Massey ’scoffed and laughed at’ repeated MSHA citations at Upper Big Branch Mine prior to April 5 disaster that killed 29 miners
by Ken Ward Jr. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., has secured an additional $22 million to help clear up the huge backlog of appealed enforcement cases pending at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. In a statement announcing the move, Sen. Byrd had this to say: Last month, a horrific explosion at the [...]
While mine disaster interviews continue, federal court sits on case to open process to the public
by Ken Ward Jr. Federal and state agency officials today completed their fourth day of closed-door interviews in the investigation of the Massey Energy Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster. While the interviews continued, U.S. District Judge Irene Berger has yet to schedule a hearing on a request from the United Mine Workers of America and [...]
MSHA: Page had been removed from ‘fireboss book’ at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine
by Ken Ward Jr. Federal investigators have determined that a page was removed from the “fireboss book” at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine, where 29 workers were killed a month ago in the worst U.S. coal-mining disaster in 40 years. That’s according to a new court filing by lawyers for the families of two [...]
Casey calls for hold on Massey permits
By Scott Beveridge U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is calling on state mining regulators to place a hold on any applications from Massey Energy to begin mining in Washington County, a day after the company purchased area coal reserves in bankruptcy court. Casey said he wants any permits stalled until the company’s safety issues are resolved [...]
Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950
By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman's presidency, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data found. Some conservative political movements such as the “Tea Party” have criticized federal spending as being out of control. [...]
