Coal Dust, a Coal Death, and Stream (Over)-Protection

On this West Virginia Morning, eight former coal mine employees in western Kentucky faced arraignment last week on federal charges that they conspired to falsify monitoring of coal dust, which can cause black lung disease. The unusual case comes amid a surge in black lung, and the fraud charges highlight the risks miners face. Miners say cheating on dust monitors is widespread. And a recent change in Kentucky law could make it harder for those with black lung to get benefits.

Also on today’s show, strengthened stream protection regulations spurred a fight between unlikely foes — environmentalists and tourism entrepreneurs — about whether those protections go too far.

And Gene Kendzior tells his daughter, Jennifer, about her grandfather, who died working in a coal mine in 1967.

Those stories and more on the West Virginia Morning:

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