The Wheeling papers frame automation as “helping coal worker productivity”
Of course it has nothing to do with job loss; that’s always Obama’s fault
Today’s Wheeling "newspapers" have a front page article, “Technology Helping Coal Worker Productivity in the Ohio Valley”, which looks to have grown out of a Murray Energy PR release. While it appears that the article is about improved worker productivity, it demonstrates what increased mechanization is (and has been) doing to the . . .
Posted in: automationit's all obama's faultwar on coal
Rep. McKinley votes to cut coal safety enforcement budget (with 9/16 update)
Why is the congressman ignoring his own vote?
The vote
Here’s the headline on this morning’s front page of the Charleston Gazette-Mail:
W.Va Reps. Vote to Cut MSHA Funds
And here’s the subheading:
Congressmen, all Republicans, cite ‘rightsizing’ mine safety amid coal industry’s decline
Ken Ward, Jr. reports:
. . .
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence
Mining execs to meet at Trump hotel where rooms will be $800+ a night
The headline from yesterday’s Intercept:
After Massive Giveaways To Industry, Mining Executives Will Spend Big at Trump's D.C. Hotel
The article explains:
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES of some of the largest coal and mining companies in the country have chosen the Trump International Hotel in Washington, . . .
Posted in: coaldavid mckinleytrump administration
A tale of two coal-country newspaper editorials
The Wheeling News-Register and the Lexington Herald-Leader tackle the Trump administration’s decision to end the mountaintop mining study
On Tuesday, I blogged about the Trump administration’s decision to end a major study of the health effects of mountaintop mining. Today, despite not covering the original story, the Wheeling New-Register editorialized about that decision. Before doing so, however, the editorial spent the first two paragraphs attacking Obama even though it was . . .
Health care: West Virginia, Joe Manchin, and the possibility of single-payer
The Affordable Care Act increased the number of West Virginian’s with health insurance in 2016
From the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy:
The data on health insurance coverage showed that 96,000 West Virginians lacked health insurance in 2016, a decrease of 12,000 from 2015. In 2016, 94.7 percent of West . . .
Mountaintop removal update
It may not get many headlines but it still continues to do damage
Background for a study
As explained by the New York Times:
Last year, West Virginia officials asked the Obama administration to look into the health effects of mountaintop mining, a technique used to extract underlying coal. . . .
The National Academies assembled a 12-member expert committee to assess “new . . .
Posted in: mountaintop removaltrump administration
Conspiracy theories
Rush Limbaugh on Hurricane Irma
The Washington Post details's Rush Limbaugh's Tuesday reaction to Hurricane Irma:
Rush Limbaugh didn't say the magic words, but on Tuesday he basically accused the media of creating fake news about Hurricane Irma, which is threatening Florida after hitting Barbuda and Antigua. . . .
Posted in: conspiracy theoriesrush limbaugh
