West Virginia News

Safety Officials Warn 13 Mines in 7 States

Federal regulators late Friday warned 13 mining operations in seven states, including two owned by troubled Massey Energy Co., to show improvement on safety or face stricter enforcement. The Mine Safety and Health Administration says a 14th mining operation, Massey’s …

Work-Related Deaths Decline in West Virginia

Work-related deaths in West Virginia have fallen to their lowest level since 2002. Preliminary figures released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show 41 workers suffered fatal on-the-job injuries in 2009, down from 53 in 2008. Forty …

Judges’ Mediation of Massey Pollution Case Fails in West Virginia

A lawyer for the plaintiffs says attempts to settle a long-running water pollution lawsuit against Massey Energy Co. have failed. Two judges on West Virginia’s mass litigation panel have been trying to mediate a settlement with Massey and its army …

Halter to Head New Southeast Region for Patriot National

Paul Halter has joined workers’ compensation specialist Patriot National Insurance Group as regional vice president of the newly created Southeast region. In his new role, Halter will establish a Patriot National regional office in Charlotte, N.C. and will take responsibility …

Ohio Workers’ Compensation Bureau Manager Quit Amid Ethical Questions

A manager at Ohio’s insurance fund for injured workers has resigned amid ethical questions about whether his private side business benefited from connections he made while on the state payroll. Documents provided to The Associated Press through a public records …

Slurry Pollution Case Plaintiffs Called to West Virginia Meeting

Eighteen months ago, Christina Doyle packed up her two kids for an eight-hour journey to a West Virginia courthouse, hoping for some resolution to a lawsuit over water pollution she believes caused her daughter’s learning disabilities and slow growth. This …

Pennsylvania Woman Sues Gas Driller, Claims Water Tainted

A Pennsylvania woman is suing natural gas driller Chesapeake Energy Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, claiming that drilling near her rural home has fouled the water with methane and other pollutants and created a rash of health problems since …

Georgia’s Hudgens Among New State Insurance Commissioners

The Nov. 2 elections will mean there will soon be a number of new insurance commissioners across the country. Three states – Georgia, California, and Oklahoma-elected new insurance commissioners. Republican state Sen. Ralph T. Hudgens will be the new Georgia …

Declarations

Yes, You Can “They said, ‘Yes, we have that authority.’” —Elaine Skorich, an assistant attorney general in West Virginia praising a state Supreme Court ruling upholding the authority of West Virginia’s mine safety office to suspend coal miners. The decision …

Growth, Stability and Changes in Store for Long Term Care Market

With the first of 77 million baby boomers nearing retirement age in 2011, assisted living facilities and nursing home facilities will play a more important role than ever before. About three million Americans will require long term and post-acute care …