October 23, 2015 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its third week. Jurors heard from a company president who was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony against Blankenship, as well as conflicting information about whether Blankenship was ever inside the Upper Big Branch mine.

April 5, 2012 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 3Comment

“When the world came to an end” is how Joshua Williams described being inside the Upper Big Branch coal mine at 3:02 pm on April 5, 2010. He knew several crews of coal miners were much deeper inside the dark tunnels than he. An ominous feeling. Coal dust explosions are powerful and deadly. Eight days […]