Founded in 2004, the Appalachian Prison Book Project has mailed more than 70,000 books to people incarcerated in Appalachian prisons, with the goal of expanding access to books and educational resources.
Home » Former Coal Co. CEO Don Blankenship Indicted, Outlaw Coal Operations Skirting Penalties and More
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Former Coal Co. CEO Don Blankenship Indicted, Outlaw Coal Operations Skirting Penalties and More
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Once considered untouchable, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship was indicted on four federal charges in connection with the Upper Big Branch Disaster that killed 29 men in 2010. It’s news that folks in the coalfields never thought would happen.
In this episode, we’ll hear a special investigative series of reports about outlaw coal mining companies that keep operating despite injuries, violations and millions in fines.
And a new lawsuit has just been filed on behalf of the 78 coal miners who died in the Farmington Mine Disaster. We’ll hear memories from Sarah Kasnoski, one of the widows who lost her husband on that fateful date, November 20, 1968.
Investigating Outlaw Mines That Keep Operating Despite Delinquent Fines
A recent investigative report has uncovered that some coal companies are working the system to avoid paying fines. The report also finds a connection between skirted financial penalties and injured coal miners: mines with more delinquent fines also have higher rates of injured workers.
NPR and Mine Safety and Health News sifted through citations, and documents for more than a year to find the connection. NPR’s Howard Berkes says it was no easy task. Each delinquent fine has a different start date, so tracking the injuries associated with the delinquent fines was complicated. In this episode, we hear the first three of these reports. We also talk with Berkes about mine safety and the development of these investigations.
NPR and Mine Safety and Health News sifted through citations, and documents for more than a year to find the connection. NPR’s Howard Berkes says it was no easy task. Each delinquent fine has a different start date, so tracking the injuries associated with the delinquent fines was complicated. In this episode, we hear the first three of these reports. We also talk with Berkes about mine safety and the development of these investigations.
New Lawsuit Cites Evidence About the Farmington Mine Disaster of 1968
In an archived interview that was originally recorded in 1992, Sarah Kasnoski, of Barrickville, West Virginia recalls the last day she spent with her husband, who died in the Farmington Mine explosion of November, 1968 with 77 other miners. This mining disaster is also known as the Mannington Mine Disaster. This story was produced by Michael Kline and originally aired on NPR’s All Things Considered in November, 1992. Now, 46 years after the Mannington Mine disaster, Sarah Kasnoski, has passed on. A new lawsuit was filed on Nov. 6th on behalf of the 78 miners, including Pete Kasnoski, who died in the mining disaster.
In 2008, writer Bonnie Stewart discovered a memo that suggests a security alarm inside the mine had been disabled. The alarm should have warned miners that the mine’s ventilation system wasn’t working.
The new lawsuit cites the evidence that Stewart help bring to light. In 2008 Scott Finn of West Virginia Public Radio originally reported on this story, about trying to solve the mystery of what killed those 78 miners back in 1968.
Music in this episode of Inside Appalachia was provided by Andy Agnew Jr., the late Hazel Dickens, who wrote and performed “Mannington Mine Disaster”, from the album Harlan County, USA, Songs of the Coal Miner’s Struggle, Alan Cathead Johnston and Stacy Grubb, with “Montcoal West Virginia”, and Kathryn Claire, who performed “Miner’s Lullaby” from her album Shimmering Blue. “Miner’s Lullaby” was written by James Low.
On this West Virginia Morning, being a parent is a 24-hour role, and a lifetime commitment that has historically fallen to women. As men have started to take on more domestic work, what it means to be a father has started to shift. Chris Schulz looks at these changes in our latest installment of “Now What? A Series on Parenting.”
On this West Virginia Morning, according to state code, the attorney general’s job is to enforce West Virginia’s laws as they relate to – listed in order – consumer protection, unfair trade practices, civil rights and other important areas. As Randy Yohe shows us, the four primary candidates running for attorney general, two Republicans and two Democrats, have diverse views on the overall mission of the office.
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia is seeing a boom in low and no-carbon manufacturing, thanks to tax credits and other federal programs designed to spur investment in energy communities. Curtis Tate spoke recently with Brian Anderson, a senior adviser on energy communities at the U.S. Department of Energy. They spoke at the University of Charleston.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Jewish holiday of Passover is coming to an end. It is a time for celebration and reflection. This year, it has been a bit more difficult, according to Rabbi Victor Urecki from Charleston. He spoke with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss the holiday and the struggle with the war in Gaza.