Don Blankenship’s Senate run is a heartbreaking ordeal for families of the Upper Big Branch mining disaster; California Supreme Court ruling will make it much harder to misclassify workers as independent contractors; farmworker families struggle with respiratory health problems; and workers around the world take to the streets for May Day.
Reporters investigate the man whose research is used to deny veterans’ claims about Agent Orange exposure; former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship goes back to court to appeal his conviction; voters in five states will cast ballots on raising the minimum wage; and OSHA’s new worker retaliation rules are delayed.
It’s been six years and one day since 29 men were killed by a coal-dust explosion at former Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine. Today, U.S. District Judge Irene Berger sentenced the company’s former CEO Don Blankenship for his practices that contributed to the disaster.
The criminal trial of Don Blankenship ended this week with a guilty verdict on one of the three charges against the former Massey Energy CEO. The reaction from family members and reflections from Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward make up my favorite quotes from this final week of the trial.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its seventh week. The jurors heard from the prosecution’s 27th (and final witness) and heard the defense team rest its case without calling any witnesses.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its sixth week. Jurors heard from a financial expert and an FBI special agent.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its fourth week. Jurors heard from Chris Blanchard, the former president of Massey Energy’s Performance Coal Company about his and Blankenship’s oversight of the Upper Big Branch mine.
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.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its second week. Jurors heard from former employees of the Upper Big Branch mine, the scene in 2010 of the worst coal mine disaster in 40 years.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship commenced on October 7 with opening statements by the prosecution and defense attorneys. The following are some of my favorite excerpts pulled from Day #1’s transcript.