CHARLESTON —
West Virginia officials are hopeful that coal mining layoffs have eased this year.
The state’s unemployment benefits program counted more than 4,700 mine workers filing initial claims earlier this year.
But program acting Executive Director Russell Fry says mining-related filings dropped to 2,500 last month.
Fry says that suggests the rest have gone back to work elsewhere. But he also notes the drop could reflect such other factors are retirements.
West Virginia is the nation’s second-biggest coal producer. A downturn blamed partly on cheap natural gas has triggered mine shutdowns and layoffs.
Fry was among several speakers called Monday by a House-Senate committee studying coal’s future in the state.
State Division of Energy Director John Herholdt told lawmakers the state has more than a century’s worth of coal to mine.
West Virginia
W.Va. lawmakers focus on coal downturn
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State inmates will start farming for food bank
Inmates at seven minimum- and medium-security prisons in West Virginia will be sowing seeds this spring and tending plants this summer as part of a new program to grow produce for the state’s largest food bank.
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Tax, fee hikes proposed to fund state roads
A commission studying West Virginia’s highway system is proposing tax and fee increases to raise millions of dollars for maintenance and repairs.
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Rockefeller sponsors new head-injury legislation
A senator who’s long pushed parents, coaches and communities to help protect young athletes from sports-related concussions is now sponsoring federal legislation to set safety standards for helmets.
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Former hospital executive, nurse to become state DHHR secretary
Former hospital executive and nurse Karen Bowling will become West Virginia’s Health and Human Resources secretary on July 1, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said Wednesday, taking over a sprawling department recently scrutinized by an audit and assigned the daunting task of expanding the state’s Medicaid program.
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Protesters rally at FirstEnergy annual meeting
At least 200 union workers picketed FirstEnergy’s annual shareholder meeting in West Virginia on Tuesday, demanding the Ohio-based utility hire enough people to keep the power on without forcing an ever-shrinking labor force to work as many as 1,800 hours of overtime a year.
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Waiver eliminates ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
West Virginia won limited freedom Monday from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, gaining approval of its own method for identifying struggling schools and then devoting resources to improve them.
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W.Va. gets reprieve from No Child Left Behind law
West Virginia has won some limited freedom from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.
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Big decision looms for W.Va. House
West Virginia’s House of Delegates faces a momentous decision after Speaker Rick Thompson departs for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet: Choosing a new leader will help set the stage for 2014, when Republicans aim to wipe out the Democrats’ ebbing majority.
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Coin commemorates W.Va.’s 150th birthday
West Virginia is adding a commemorative coin to the celebratory mix for its 150th birthday, the commission overseeing the sesquicentennial activities announced Saturday.
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Record trout caught in Berkeley County
The Division of Natural Resources says a record rainbow trout was caught in Berkeley County.
DNR director Frank Jezioro says the trout was caught by Tony Corbin of Gerrardstown on May 2 from a private pond. - More West Virginia Headlines
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State inmates will start farming for food bank
